2017 Chateau Quintus St Emilion Grand Cru

Tasted blind. Mid ruby colour. Floral, quite high toned and laced with nutmeg. A gently worked wine, with charming blueberry and red-berry fruit at the core. Positively zesty acidity cuts through everything, but the tannins are delicate and fine. This is a lively, brisk example. Approachable already. (TP)

The 2017 Quintus is super impressive today. Sweet floral and spice nuances give the 2017 its striking aromatic upper register. Rich and dense on the palate, Quintus is a bold, hedonistically opulent Saint-Émilion in 2017. Soaring Franc overtones play off the Merlot nicely, adding both aromatic presence and a real feeling of saline intensity that comes through, especially on the finish. Today, the 2017 is a touch exuberant - almost too much so. Another few years in bottle should help it settle down. The 2017 is not at all subtle, but it has a lot to offer. Here, too, élevage has done wonders for the wine.

Composed of 54.4% Merlot and 45.6% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Quintus is deep garnet-purple in color and charges out of the gate with exuberant scents of blueberry compote, plum preserves and fresh mulberries with touches of sandalwood, powdered cinnamon, potpourri and forest floor plus a waft of black tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with expressive black and blue fruit layers, framed by wonderfully velvety tannins, finishing long and layered.