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Quintus 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

Quintus is the latest venture of the Dillon family - owners of Chateau Haut Brion. This new 28 hectare estate was created following the purchase and amalgamation of Chateaux Tertre Daugay and l'Arrosée in Saint Emilion - vineyards close to Angélus.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Chateau Quintus

Label

Tasting Notes

This is so beautifully integrated already with dark, stony minerals, slate and graphite, as well as a swathe of ripe blackberries and dark, spicy plums. The palate starts out quite tight and maintains a long, linear shape that pushes deeper and wider into the finish. Regal and velvety on the surface. Profoundly fine and long below. Freshens as it goes, too. Superb. Try from 2023.

96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

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. Drink 2019-2039.

95
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2019

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Quintus needs a little swirling and spurring before it gallops out with powerful notes of plum preserves, blueberry pie, and tar, leading to suggestions of star anise, mincemeat pie, and dried roses. Full-bodied, the palate is plush, generous, and expressive, delivering beautifully ripe, soft tannins and a lively backbone to support the rich fruit, finishing long and opulent.
2025-2049

95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, July 2022

The sixth vintage under the wing of Haut-Brion. The vines didn't block in the heat here, which is why the alcohols are generous, but this is absolutely perfectly balanced. The generosity of the ripe blackberry and cassis fruit stretches out with the juice running right through it, joined by some exotic spice and grilled oak touches through the mid-palate. But they never overwhelm the gentle extraction, and overall this is an extremely successful Quintus that leaves a beautifully fragrant quality in the mouth. 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

94
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Dark purplish crimson. Silky and appetising and now it's getting really good! Fresh and zesty. Polished and very successful in this sixth vintage. Appetising and sophisticated. Croquant. Long. Spicy.
Drink 2024-2040

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

The fruit is sweet and ripe the nose has depth the palate a rich mix of red and black fruits. Integrated tannins the start of the palate is supple and fleshy lighter in the middle bilberry freshness with sweet fruit giving fleshy richness on the finish. 2026-38

90/94
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017

Made by the team at Haut-Brion since 2010, this has now established itself as a top St Emilion, as you’d expect. It’s quite a ripe, late picked style, but it doesn’t show its 15% alcohol, thanks to the acidity and leafy vibrancy of the Cabernet Franc. 2023-29

94
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

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. Drink Date 2022 - 2040

92/94
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

A tight and concentrated young Quintus with blackberry, blueberry and salt character. Medium-to full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy. Grows on the finish.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Saint-Emilion features expressive notions of warm blackberries, black cherry compote and baked plums with hints of tobacco leaf, wild sage and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has a great intensity of black fruits and wonderfully plush tannins with a compelling savoriness to the finish.

89
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim No), November 2018
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.