Quintessa 2022 Red Blend, Rutherford, Napa Valley

The 2022 growing season benefited from late fall rains of 2021. With this nutrient storage, the vines relied on their reserves to usher them through the following drought year. Dry winter conditions prompted early bud break, but a cool spring elongated bloom. Moderate temperatures throughout most of the summer meant veraison aligned with a more historic ripening calendar. 

Late-season heat punctuated the final stages of the vintage. In these moments, we saw the benefits of practices put into place years prior. In 2017, we honed techniques to build resilience against climactic pressures in younger vines and preserve more mature vines. By 2022, the makeup of the vineyard was predominately older vine material, and they beautifully weathered the heat. For the small percentage of new plantings, optimal row orientation, spacing, and shade management aided them through this period. This heat encouraged ripening and the smaller clusters accelerated harvest. Picking commenced on September 9 with our younger vines in the Riviera block, and concluded on October 1 in our Limelight block. The fruit showed exceptional phenolic ripeness, great levels of acidity, and an elegant balance.

Our 2022 unfurls with a lifted bouquet of complex and intense aromatics. Ripe plum and a bushel of red and black cherries give way to herbal and spice notes, all underpinned by tobacco and dark chocolate. On the palate, the plush dark fruit ushers in savory, earth-bound notes of iron and crushed rocks, while cassis and cocoa weave throughout. Our signature firm yet fine-grained tannins frame the medium body, and the bright acidity provides a lively freshness. The broad and enveloping texture leaves a long, lingering finish in its wake.