Château Quintus 2014

The 2014 Quintus was quite backward and tight-lipped when I tasted it from bottle: broody black cherries and black plum, with a touch of clove and fresh mint eventually emerging. The palate is silky smooth on entry, a Saint-Emilion that caresses and seduces the senses. It is very pure, with lovely black cherry, blueberry and white pepper notes, though I would like a little more structure and tension on the finish. It’s a wine that is out to give pleasure, but I hope more personality and terroir expression will develop in the future.

A good depth of fruit, but the oak does sit on the nose and palate, leaving a charry edge. It’s round and sweet, with finely etched tannins, and the Cabernet Franc adds freshness on the finish. The yield was low, at 25 hl/ha. It could be an interesting bottle if the oak integrates finely.

Striking nose of old balsamic vinegar, bark and wet earth, but there’s also plenty of blackberry fruit. Ripe, ample and well-structured, this is an impressive and delicious St.-Emilion that’s already in its best drinking phase. Just a hint of fig at the very long, velvety finish. Drink or hold. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

The 2014 Quintus has really come together nicely since I tasted it from barrel. Supple, pliant and wonderfully fleshy in the glass, this pretty wine possesses lovely richness and texture. Dark stone fruit, leather, spice and dried flowers infuse the creamy, expressive finish. The 2014 could be cellared for a few years to allow some of the youthful tannins to soften further, but it is quite expressive today. This is the first vintage of Quintus that incorporates fruit from both of the Dillon family's Saint-Émilion properties, formerly known as Tertre Daugay and L'Arrosée. The two adjacent sites are now being farmed as one. Among other things, this means fruit is harvested according to ripeness, rather than by estate. The blend is 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc. Tasted two times.

A medium-bodied wine, fresh and spicy, with a warm cherry-pie character and a fresh, elegant black raspberry finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14.45% ABV. 90-91 pts

The 2014 Château Quintus is a small step back from the 2015. Dense purple/plum colored, with terrific notes of currants, cassis, new leather, and toasted spices, this beauty shines on the palate and is medium to full-bodied, seamless, sexy, and ready to go. It’s already hard to resist but will keep for 10-15 years.

Deep purple, dense at the core, with a garnet shimmer at the rim. Comfortingly fragrant, warm bouquet of ripe plums and freshly roasted coffee, beautifully expansive. Never before has a Quintus en primeur impressed me so positively. On the palate, firm, with demanding extract, lovely blue berries; in the finish and on the tongue it again shows its exacting, even somewhat stern character. It will always remain a demanding food wine.

Deep purple, dense at the core, with garnet highlights at the rim. Comfortingly fragrant, warm bouquet of ripe plums and freshly roasted coffee, beautifully expansive. Never before has a Quintus as a barrel sample appealed to me so positively. On the palate, firm, with demanding extract, lovely blue berries; in the finish and on the tongue it once again shows its demanding, even somewhat strict character. It will always remain a demanding food wine.

(69% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc) Restrained, light bouquet with blackcurrant, raspberry, caramel, vanilla. Silky, medium-bodied, sweet palate with medium fruit, finely sandy tannins, light, delicate aromatics, and a medium, peppery finish. 17/20 2019 - 2032

The 2014 Quintus is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. The nose is slightly tired to start off, soon morphing into notes of rosebud tea, potpourri, and cherry cola with hints of leather and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate has a lovely cherry lift, with savory nuances and a chewy finish. Tasted blind with the Southwold Group in London in February 2024.

Tender and velvety but very classic, to be forgotten for a while so it can evolve like old Bordeaux wines. The elegance is there but somewhat muted, as the oak dominates.

Crafted by the Haut-Brion team, who completely reshaped it from l'Arrosée and Tertre-Daugay, Quintus is a dense, tight, elegant, fine wine with lovely length and real class. 69% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc. For the record, most of it comes from Tertre Daugay and 21.5% from Arrosée. With this fine 2014, Quintus is off to a strong start.

Garnet red. Complex bouquet of very good intensity, revealing notes of raspberries and blueberries. Fine, fruity attack. The palate is supple and well balanced. The structure unfolds slowly and aligns with tannins that are perfectly integrated and dense. They emerge on the finish, offering promising length. Fruity finish.

(69% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc) The nose reveals notes of blackcurrant, raspberry and blackcurrant buds. The palate is fruity, rich, rounded, and offers lovely tension and an acid backbone. On the palate, there are notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, and more subtly cherry pits, with a touch of black cherry, vanilla and tobacco. The tannins are fine and integrated. Slight dryness on the finish. Good length.

Dark, intense color with slight evolution. An intense nose of pure, ripe fruit, with a hint of licorice and complexity. Delicate on the attack, smooth and tender as it unfolds, moderately aromatic yet consistently enveloped. The wine finishes long and flavorful, with a return of fruit on the lingering palate that was unsuspected on the nose. Blend: 69% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc.