A full-bodied, youthful wine with blackberry fruit, graphite, volcanic earth, and sagebrush. Nuances of toasty oak, chocolate and blueberry reduction are present, and the tannins are firm, if not polished, with a woodsy edge. It is a little more clunky than the other vintages but richly flavoured and an excellent year to consume now as others slumber. 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 3% Carménѐre. Harvest: September 11 – October 7, 2017. 22 months in 76% new French oak barrel.

Quintessa's 2017 Proprietary Red Wine is a more muscular, pungent expression of this special bit of Rutherford dirt. Scents of camphor and earth accent cassis on the nose, while the mouthfeel is full-bodied and sturdy, with ample tannins and hints of mocha on the finish. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Carmenère and 1% Petit Verdot aged in 76% new French oak, it's quite different in style from most other vintages.