Quintus 2020

The 2020 Quintus is one of the most successful renditions of this wine to date, offering up aromas of dark cherries, wild berries, sweet spices and licorice framed by nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, seamless and integrated, it's fleshy and layered, with powdery tannins, succulent acids and impressive overall balance despite its 15.4% alcohol. Indeed, while this is obviously a powerful, broad-shouldered Saint-Émilion, in terms of oak and extraction it's far from excessive. The blend is 62.5% Merlot with 37.5% Cabernet Franc.

The 2020 Quintus has a wonderfully harmonious bouquet with black fruit, briar, a touch of wild mint and beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins and a fine bead of acidity. It is perhaps modern in style, but even blind, this just oozes class and sophistication. Despite the high alcohol, this manages to pull it all off. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2027 - 2055

Wow. This is very chalky and salty with lots of mineral character. It shows lots of purple fruit and firm tannins. Racy and bright. Chewy yet fine tannins. Gorgeous. Gets better and better.

Bottled in May 2022, the 2020 Quintus is deep garnet-purple colored. It bursts with flamboyant black cherry compote, blueberry preserves, and Christmas cake scents, leading to subtle suggestions of candied violets, crushed rocks, and camphor. Full-bodied, the palate explodes with energetic black and blue fruits, supported by beautifully plush tannins and an electric backbone of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
2026-2051

Exuberant and confident, with powerful damson and black cherry fruit flavours on the nose. Chocolate and liquorice run through the palate from beginning to end, and this is full of signature St-Emilion glamour. It has a round and supple texture through the mid palate, but the alcohol hides some of the limestone nuance at this point - it will no doubt emerge more clearly with 8 to 10 years in bottle. Harvest 11th September for the Merlot grapes and 23rd September for the Cabernet Franc.

Drinking Window 2029 - 2044

Full bottle 1,340 g. Cask sample taken 13 April. Nice and fresh! 62.5% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Franc.
Purplish crimson with a healthy glow. Much firmer somehow on the nose than most of the other wines from this appellation. Opulent palate entry but then very sophisticated drive. Distinctively focussed and much drier than most St-Émilions with limestone influence well in evidence. Already persistent. Lean, fresh tannins on the finish. Not in the rich camp but expressive in its own style. 15.4%
Drink 2026 – 2040

(63% M, 37% CF; 15.4% ABV)
Refined and subtle to smell, Cabernet Franc finesse plus ripe blackberry Merlot; both full-bodied and refined, fresh in acidity, finely dry in tannin; pure and sweet in fruit, quite complex and aromatic, but it is also a touch fiery in impression (so, not exactly an “easy” mouthful), long across the palate, gently racy, mouthcoating, and with fine, sweet, fragrant length. Fine wine, but the tannins rendered a little harder and drier on the (warm) finish by the alcohol level. Refined St-Emilion in a very well-managed, but clear current “hot-year” style. 2028–40+.