2016 Chateau Quintus

97 POINTS

Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com

Ripe damson-plum fruit and generous richness make this youthful, high-end St.-Emilion surprisingly easy to drink right now. Underneath the sensual exterior is a serious structure and that becomes ever more obvious as it rolls over the palate. Very long finish that has a certain sweetness, but remains so elegant. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

96 POINTS

James Suckling

This is so beautifully integrated already with dark, stony minerals, slate and graphite, as well as a swathe of ripe blackberries and dark, spicy plums. The palate starts out quite tight and maintains a long, linear shape that pushes deeper and wider into the finish. Regal and velvety on the surface. Profoundly fine and long below. Freshens as it goes, too. Superb. Try from 2023.

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Chateau Quintus, of course under the umbrella of Domaine Clarence Dillon (Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion), is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 20 October. This is the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc since the debut in 2011. Matured in just under 30% new oak, it has a slightly broody bouquet at first with black fruit and hints of allspice and clove. The palate is nicely structured, with the Cabernet Franc lending this impressive backbone (more than the 2015) and a slightly masculine, grippy finish that suggests it will be a long-term proposition. Excellent.

94 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2016 Quintus is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and features a quiet intensity of chocolate-covered cherries, warm mulberries and plum preserves scents with underlying hints of dried lavender, star anise and potpourri. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with perfumed black fruit layers, framed by seductively plush tannins and great freshness and finishing with fantastic length.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

A tight and concentrated young Quintus with blackberry, blueberry and salt character. Medium-to full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy. Grows on the finish. Points: 94-95

94 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

One of the real surprises of the vintage, the 2016 Quintus is superb. Creamy and ample on the palate, with striking depth to its dark, fleshy fruit, it possesses exceptional balance. All of the previous vintages have been good, but each of them has lacked something. The 2016 is the first vintage in which I can say Quintus is not missing anything. Now, what remains to be seen is how high this wine can go. The 2016 is exceptionally vivid and nuanced, with seemingly endless layers of fruit that virtually cover the tannins, and a long, sublime finish.