2019, Château Quintus, SAINT-ÉMILION

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.

Deep, dark and fully flavoured, showing plum, prune and raisin. Tannins are gorgeous, but they are quite dominant, feeling ever so slightly coarse. Very good freshness with a chalky quality to it. A hint of cumin and cayenne spice towards the finish - lots going on. An autumnal wine. 63.5% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22.5% Cabernet Franc.

The 2019 Quintus has quite a high-toned and outgoing bouquet with liquorice and tinged black fruit. Quite powerful, this gains more cohesion with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, very well balanced, with sappy, pure black fruit laced with minerals and a precise if glossy finish. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.

The 2019 Quintus has developed into an elegant, sensual Saint-Émilion. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, menthol and leather build nicely, lending brooding intensity to this deceptively medium-bodied 2019. The blend of 55.4% Merlot, 44.6% Cabernet Franc is very nicely judged. I can't wait to see how this ages. 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

One of highest levels of Cabernet Franc since Haut-Brion arrived at the estate, and it makes its mark in all the right places. A gorgeous sculpted feel, with grip and personality, charcoal slate character, minerality and sappy fruit. White pepper spice, austerity and grip, very much a sign of how good this grape can be in St Emilion. Harvest 19 September through to 27 September for Marlot, then break until October 7 to 9 for Cabernet Franc. 95 Jane Anson, Decanter.

Quite a rich nose. Heady and full with some soft floral aromatics. This is gorgeous, full of life, great freshness and energy but with a deep core of flavour - layered and complex, this gives the mouthwatering juicy acidity you want but also the lovely plush tannins and sensitivity of fruit - power and charm. Tannins are so well integrated supporting the fruit and giving structure with a cooling, liquorice mintiness on the finish. Great impact and presence. Could drink this now and savour the lifted fruit and cooling ending. 55.4% Merlot and 44.6% Cabernet Franc. 95 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

The 2019 Quintus exhibits aromas of rich, plummy fruit mingled with exotic spices and smoky, toasty new oak. Full-bodied, broad and textural, it's rich and fleshy, with a ripe core of fruit, lively acids and powdery structuring tannins. Cabernet Franc represents nearly 45% of the blend this year. 93 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

The 2019 Quintus is a blend of 55.4% Merlot and 44.6% Cabernet Franc, harvested from the 19th of September to the 9th of October. The estimated alcohol degree on the label is 15%. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it sails out of the glass with intense scents of plum preserves, blueberry pie and boysenberries with nuances of Chinese five spice, mocha, dried lavender and liquorice plus a waft of chargrill. Full-bodied, the decadently fruited palate is jam-packed with layers of blue and black fruit preserves, supported by beautifully plush, ripe tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with an epically long, exotic spice-laced finish. Impactful! 94-96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate.

Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045