2020 Quintessa, Proprietary Red, Rutherford, Bottle (750ml)

DR98 Gorgeous aromas, fragrant and floral, sweet and heady sun-kissed currants and black cherry fruit. Full and intense but straight and linear, quite lean and not fleshy, with some cool, crystalline blue fruit aspects as well as liquorice and tobacco notes. It's compact for sure, but so well worked, tannins are fine and firm, really supportive and give both a wide and deep frame. Spiced and chalky but this is slick, stylish and sophisticated. The coiled nature of the tannins keeps it from expanding too much right now, clearly youthful with bite and a smoky tang on the finish. A delicious, biodynamic wine worth getting your hands on. Estate director Rodrigo Soto, winemaker Rebekah Wineburg. Ageing 22 months, 60% new French oak. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Carménère and 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

LP96 The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Carmenere, and 2% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps with vibrant scents of wild blueberries, redcurrant jelly, and warm cassis plus hints of underbrush, pencil shavings, and bay leaves. The full-bodied palate is lively and fine-grained, with bags of bright fruit and a fragrant lift on the finish of this impressive wine.