The 2019 vintage began with well-timed rains, providing a graceful start to the season. More than 35 inches through the winter months and into early spring established healthy soils and lush cover crops leading to even shoot growth and a strong early-season canopy for the vines. Spring temperatures remained cool through May. The cooler weather slowed the emergence of bloom on the vine by 13 days compared to the estate’s five-year average. This slight delay allowed for an ideal fruit-set, and ultimately healthy yields for Quintessa. Temperatures warmed slightly in summer, encouraging an even arc of ripening while maintaining vibrant acidity. The season gave us a well-paced and steady harvest period. We began to bring in fruit on September 19th and finished October 22nd.
The 2019 Quintessa offers nuance, depth, and great persistence. A complex of flower, forest, fruit, and earth notes harmonize with fine-grained tannin and vibrant acidity. It is a wine of precision as well as transparency. The 2019 Quintessa will drink well now for those who prefer a youthful expression but will also last in cellar for at least another twenty years for those who enjoy the complexities of age.
