2018 Quintus

97 POINTS

James Suckling

A wine with wonderful clarity of fruit and firm, creamy and polished tannins. So intense and powerful. Layers of fruit and tannins intertwined. Lovely blackberry, black cherry, cedar and sandalwood. Mushroom and bark undertones. One of the best from here. Try after 2027.

95 POINTS

Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com

The deep, meaty and earthy nose pulls you into this concentrated and beautifully balanced St.-Emilion. Stunning interplay of fine and graceful tannins with restrained richness. Very long, fresh and light-footed finish. Château Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

95 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Dark ruby with purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Floral notes are underlaid with hints of liquorice and elderberries, subtle savoury oak, and peppery nuances. Powerful, but fruity and silky in texture, with perfect tannin ripeness, fine structure, and savoury minerality. A delicate food wine with very good length.

94 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Composed of 72.3% Merlot and 27.7% Cabernet Franc, harvested September 20 to October 8, the 2018 Quintus is deep purple-black in color and rolls sensuously out of the glass with very pure, perfumed notes of lilacs, lavender, plum preserves and chocolate-covered cherries giving way to notes of spice cake, cardamom, fenugreek and fragrant soil plus a touch of unsmoked cigars. The full, rich, seductive palate provides layer upon layer of perfumed black fruits and spicy nuances with a firm yet soft frame and oodles of freshness to lift the long finish. Beautifully done.

94 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A blend of 72.3% Merlot and 27.7% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Quintus is deep garnet-purple in color, bursting from the glass with rambunctious scents of stewed black plums, boysenberries, dried mulberries and Christmas pudding, plus suggestions of sandalwood, cinnamon stick, potpourri and oolong tea. Full-bodied, rich and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it counters all that fruit with alluring exotic spice and floral accents, supported by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

94 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

This is very St-Emilion in its luxury and silkiness, with a beautiful texture and great persistency. It's a highly successful and seductive wine, and 2018 is the eighth vintage under the Haut-Brion banner. It has a beautiful nose showing extremely high quality fruit, combining precision and flesh in the notes of blackberry, dark chocolate, choux bun and liquorice, while touches of violets and peonies help lift the nose. Just a touch of heat through the finish. Harvested 20 September to 8 October. Just 4% press wine used, as it's a particularly tannic year for press wines. 3.62pH.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Blueberry and black cherry with some floral and crushed-stone character. Full-bodied and chewy with lots of chalk, stone and dusty character to the blue fruit. Solid. Second wine. Needs three to four years to open. Try after 2025.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

This is very reserved with blueberry, cedar and shaved-chocolate character. Medium to full body and firm, lightly chewy tannins that are polished and pretty. Energetic finish at the end. Points: 93-94