Quintessa Rutherford Napa Valley 2021

100 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "An exquisite wine, relying primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon from a single estate. Aromas of lavender, dried herbs and grapefruit pith combine with flavors of firm fruits and cocoa on a structure of abundant, powder-fine tannin and a mouthwatering finish. This wine is refined, detailed and delicious, with as much elegance as energy. Best 2026–2040. Alcohol 14.5%. (Jul 2024)"

99 points James Suckling: "So much graphite and volcanic character on the nose with metal shavings and gunpowder. Black ink, iron and rust, too. Blackberry and blackcurrant undertones. Full-bodied but not overpowering, with chewy and juicy tannins that are long and very subtle. Superb finish. From biodynamic grapes with Demeter certification. 91% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 3% carmenere, 1% merlot, and 1% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in 2027. (7/27/24)"

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Lastly, the 2021 Proprietary Red was just bottled in July of this year and checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenere, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, brought up in 64% new French oak. It offers pure blue fruits, spring flowers, violets, and spicy oak, with a beautiful chalky, mineral note that comes through more on the palate. It's elegant, full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, good acidity, and terrific length. It's another gorgeous wine that will evolve for 15+ years. Drink: 2024-2039. (Feb 2024)"

98 points Decanter: "The 2021 Quintessa Red Wine is a compact, coiled-up, polished red. Intensely aromatic and perfumed, it leads with a distinct burst of cast-iron minerality, dusty sage, red and blackberry fruits, and perfumed rose petals. Medium to full-bodied with a dense core of succulent boysenberry fruit, plums, and kirsch, all of which have tremendous staying power matched only by the wine's burly, robust and muscular tannins, which offer a real contrast to the supreme elegance of this wine. More time in the bottle is needed to let these tannins soften. If you open it before 2025, let it breathe several hours ahead of time, perhaps even double-decant it. 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carmenere, 1% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 65% new French oak and 3% terracotta amphora. Drinking Window: 2024-2045. (Apr 2024)"

98 points International Wine Report: "The 2021 Quintessa is a beautifully crafted wine that captivates from the start with its alluring aromatic profile of ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, and a hint of blueberry, accented by fresh-cut violets, graphite, mocha, exotic spices, and a hint of wet gravel. On the palate, it reveals a full-bodied character that is both precise and graceful, showcasing exceptional definition and excellent structure. The wine impresses with its impeccable balance and poise, offering a refined mouthfeel that carries effortlessly into a long, elegant finish. Complex and sophisticated, this age-worthy Cabernet is poised for a sensational future, promising to evolve beautifully over the years. Drink 2025-2045 (Dec 2024)"

96 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "Marked by scents of cherries and raspberries, with just the barest hints of cedar and mocha-tinged oak, Quintessa's fruit-forward 2021 Proprietary Red Wine is wonderfully smooth and supple in the mouth. It's medium to full-bodied, suave and silky, all class and elegance, without any sense of excessive bulk or rusticity. If one were to have a complaint about it (hardly likely), it's that it comes across as almost too polished, too elegant, too easy to drink. Drink: 2024-2040. (Jan 2024)"

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "Fabulous intensity and power without ever straying over the line, clear liquorice and cocoa bean, restrained and vivid blackberry, cassis and red cherry fruits overlaid with spiced cardamom and cumin. Grilled campfire smoke as it opens, this is a delicious vintage of Quintessa. Rebekah Wineburg winemaker. Drink 2026-2045 (Jul 2024)"