Dragon de Quintus 2015

The 2015 le Dragon de Quintus is a blend of 76% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. In a perverse way, the nose is less engaging than the Saint-Émilion de Quintus, much more withdrawn with light black cherry and boysenberry fruit, a slight Burgundian element to these aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that frame a nicely structured wine. There is plenty of tart red cherry fruit mixed with orange rind and a touch of graphite, leading to a composed finish. Give this a year for the nose to open and you will have a fine second wine. Anticipated maturity: 2019 - 2027.

Ripe-fruit aromas with strawberries and tea. Aromatic. Full body and round and silky yet chewy tannins. Juicy and flavorful on the finish. Needs two or three years to soften. Pretty second wine of Quintus. Drink in 2020 and onwards.

Composed of 76% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 le Dragon de Quintus reveals a medium to deep garnet color with notes of crushed black currants, black cherries and mulberries plus touches of garrigue, dried herbs and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied with loads of juicy black fruit and earthy layers supported by ripe, grainy tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes with great persistence. 2019 - 2032

Tasted blind. Mid crimson. Gentle, curranty nose. Neat with some freshness. Appetising and unadorned. 21st-century style. No compelling flavours yet but it’s correct. A bit drying on the end. Seemed on the verge of oxidation when I went back to it though.
Drink 2024-2036

Quintus is the latest venture of the Dillon family - owners of Chateau Haut Brion. This is the second wine of this new estate in Saint Emilion. Quintus was created following the purchase and amalgamation of Chateaux Tertre Daugay and l'Arrosée. This made, in 30% new oak, from 76% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright ruby colour with a ripe, attractive cherry and vanilla nose. The palate is soft, silky, and red fruit focused with soft and yielding tannins that mean you could almost drink this now. There is a nice hit of sweet, toasty oak on the finish that adds to the complexity.

The second wine of the estate, the 2015 Le Dragon de Quintus is more classic in style, as well as balanced. Offering notes of cassis, blackberries, plums, damp earth and lead pencil, it’s medium-bodied, balanced and nicely concentrated, with beautiful purity and freshness. There’s no harm drinking this today, but it will keep for a decade. 2018 - 2028

The nose has a mix of fruits with sweet black fruits backed by fresher red. Bright at the start but it is sweeter in the middle quite fleshy with fine tannins. The ripe fruit at the back is balanced by freshness the finish has depth and sweetness. 2022-33

Very pure, scented oak leads the way with cherry-soaked fruit hot on its heels and this pair of flavours speed across the
palate lithely and accurately making this a gorgeous wine with momentum and welcome slender lines. The tannins are
present and crisp but they are also rather fine and taut and so the wine seems more forward than it really is. The result is
a stunning Dragon with pretty lines and no fire in its belly, thank goodness.