Château Quintus 2016 Magnum

$309.95
Out of stock
SKU
5374-2016-M

• Domaine: Château Quintus
• Appellation: Saint-Emilion
• Classification: Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

Enthusiasts who love the winemaking style of Château Haut-Brion will fall in love with the Saint-Émilion estate, Château Quintus.  Though Château Quintus had its official start in 2011, the vineyards have a history that dates well before that time.  Since Domaine Clarence Dillon took over ownership of the estate, impressive changes both in the vineyards and in the vat room have taken place.  Critical acclaim has been trickling in, and the estate is steadily climbing up the ranks.  Château Quintus used to be named Château Tertre Daugay after an ancient watch tower located on the grounds.  The watchtower was there to function as a lookout point, informing villagers of Saint-Émilion of local threats.  The estate was briefly owned by the de Bouard family who owned Château Angélus and changed hands a couple of times until it was purchased by Domaine Clarence Dillon, who saw the potential of this 16 hectare Right Bank vineyard.
 
Château Quintus derives its name from the Latin word for, “five.”  Ancient Roman families would often name their fifth child Quintus.  The Romans were the first to plant vines in the Right Bank region of Saint-Émilion, and the team over at Domaine Clarence Dillon tends to their estates like their own children, so the name is a perfect fit.  The property was initially 15 hectares until in 2013 Domaine Clarence Dillon purchased several plots of vines from Château L’Arrosee.  Domaine Clarence Dillon spared no expense extensively renovating the vat room at Château Quintus, implementing the use of state-of-the-art technology.   Château Quintus is currently being overseen by the energetic Jean Philippe Delmas, who understands the enormous potential of this land. 
 
The special limestone and clay soil is a home to plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  There were initially Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted here, but Domaine Clarence Dillon removed them in favor of more Cabernet Franc.  The majority of the vines are 30 years old, except a few other parcels that are almost 100 years old.  The vineyard is tended to with great care by the same team that oversees Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion.  After harvest, the wine is vinified in a mixture of stainless steel tanks and wooden vats.  The wine is then aged in a mixture of new and neutral French oak barrels.  Those who are familiar with the wine of Château Haut-Brion recognize the signature squat bottles that are reminiscent of old decanter bottles.  Château Quintus also has its own unique glass bottle that was inspired by an ancient bottle of Château Haut-Brion discovered in a pirate’s lair.  The bottle has a raised seal engraved on the glass which is an homage to the design found on the old bottle of Haut-Brion. 
 
Château Quintus is a silky, supple wine that benefits from about 8 to 10 years bottle ageing.  The wine needs decanting for about 1-2 hours to reveal its delicate nuances.  With each passing vintage, the wine improves.  Without a doubt, the trajectory of this promising estate is a very exciting one.

Tasting Notes

"The 2016 Quintus is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and features a quiet intensity of chocolate-covered cherries, warm mulberries and plum preserves scents with underlying hints of dried lavender, star anise and potpourri. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with perfumed black fruit layers, framed by seductively plush tannins and great freshness and finishing with fantastic length." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (11/30/2018), Ratings: 94, Drink: 2019-2034

"The 2016 Chateau Quintus, of course under the umbrella of Domaine Clarence Dillon (Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion), is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 20 October. This is the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc since the debut in 2011. Matured in just under 30% new oak, it has a slightly broody bouquet at first with black fruit and hints of allspice and clove. The palate is nicely structured, with the Cabernet Franc lending this impressive backbone (more than the 2015) and a slightly masculine, grippy finish that suggests it will be a long-term proposition. Excellent." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (4/28/2017), Ratings: 92-94, Drink: 2022-2040

"I have to admit a personal preference for this wine, which is deep coloured, dense and profound. It has huge fruit weight but elegance as well, the tannins present but fine. The finish is long and persistent and there's refreshment, too. The late season warmth with cool nights could have contributed to the balance of this wine. The yield was a healthy 45.1hl/ha." James Lawther MW, Decanter, Rating: 94, Drink: 2024-2042

"The deep ruby-colored 2016 Château Quintus is thrilling stuff, and my money is on it being the finest to date. Saturated purple in color, powerful notes of blackberries, currants, spicy tobacco, and a touch graphite all flow to a deep, rounded, sexy Saint-Emilion that’s beautifully balanced. It shows the class of the vintage and is capable of lasting for two decades or more." Jeb Dunnuck, Rating: 95, Drink: 2019-2039

More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Saint-Emilion
Vintage 2016
Brand Château Quintus
Shipping Weight 6.000000

Saint-Émilion is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France, renowned for its exceptional red wines and rich viticultural history. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, Saint-Émilion is a place of great beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its remarkable blend of natural and cultural attributes. The Saint-Émilion appellation is characterized by a diverse terroir featuring a mix of limestone, clay, and sandy soils that provide the foundation for its distinctive wines. The unique microclimates and elevations within the appellation contribute to the variety of flavors and styles found in Saint-Émilion wines.

The primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion wines are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot often dominating the blends. These grapes thrive in the region's favorable climate, moderated by the proximity of the Dordogne River and the buffering effects of the limestone plateau.

Saint-Émilion is famous for its unique wine classification system, which divides the vineyards into four tiers: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Grand Cru Classé, and Grand Cru. This classification reflects the quality and prestige of the individual vineyards and châteaux within the appellation, with only a select few achieving the highest ranking of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Until the re-classification in 2022, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Ausone, Château Angelus, and Château Pavie were the only four members of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A tier. Out of disagreement with the standard-setting governing body, Cheval Blanc and Ausone voluntarily dropped out. Angelus followed suit shortly after. With Pavie remaining the only member, Premier Grand Cru Classé A saw the addition of Château Figeac following a long-expected and well-deserved promotion.

Saint-Émilion wines are known for their finesse, complex aromas, and beautiful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. While they share some similarities with wines from the neighboring Pomerol appellation, they often have a slightly more structured and tannic character due to the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blends. With age, these wines develop a velvety texture and reveal an array of flavors, including dark fruits, floral notes, and hints of earthiness.

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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