2013 Quintessa Proprietary Red Rutherford Napa Valley 750 ml

Quintessa is one of Napa’s premier estates, situated on royal Rutherford terroir literally across the road from Michelin-starred Auberge du Soleil. But the real beauty of the property begins out of sight, far beyond the road, where a private glass-encased tasting space opens up to views of a lake and perfectly manicured rows of prized vines. It was in this perfect setting a few months back that we first tasted this 2013 Quintessa Proprietary Red. It’s a decadent, beautifully structured Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that had Robert Parker and James Suckling in awe. Parker’s 96-point review praised its “terrific body, stunning purity, wonderful balance, and great depth and richness,” concluding it is “the most profound Quintessa made to date and should evolve gracefully for at least 20-25 years.” Suckling found it, “Absolutely decadent on the nose with cocoa powder, blueberry, violets, black cherry and exotic spices,” and awarded it 98 points. This masterful red is a benchmark wine of the legendary 2013 vintage, and will reward for decades to come.        

Earlier this summer, we did something unusually decadent: We made a reservation at Michelin-starred Auberge du Soleil. After all, we had planned the lunch knowing that our afternoon appointment at Quintessa was only a three minute drive away—and we didn’t want to be late (at least that was our excuse). 

After three courses and espressos, we made the short drive across the Silverado Trail to Quintessa—so named after the five hills and microclimates found on the 280-acre property. It’s a stunning setting that re-affirms so much; the beauty of nature, the joie de vivre that flows through California’s wine country, and good fortune that comes with being able to visit such a serene, sweeping slice of earth. 

From our vantage point in the winery’s glass-encased private tasting room, we took in a sparkling view of the undulating vines that produced Quintessa’s phenomenal 2013 Proprietary Red. Five varieties culled from 11 estate vineyards form the soul of this luscious blend. Each block selected brings the unique properties of its own microclimate to the table; characteristics shaped by nuanced differences in soil, elevation, and exposure. These subtleties provide added complexity to its full-bodied expression that will continue to deepen for at least a decade, if not more. This is Napa red at its most decadent—from Parker’s 98-point “extraordinary” vintage—a must for any collector