Château Quintus 2015
On the heights of Saint-Émilion, Château Quintus occupies a limestone promontory with a wide view over the Dordogne valley. The property belongs to Domaine Clarence Dillon, a historic house associated with Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, which wished to create here a great reference of the right bank of Bordeaux. The name Quintus, which means "the fifth" in Gallo-Roman tradition, refers to the special place of this cru in the Clarence Dillon family universe. The vineyard rests on a diversity of clay-limestone soils and microclimates, conducive to a nuanced expression of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. In Saint-Émilion, these two grape varieties find a rare balance between flesh, aromatic depth, and limestone freshness. Quintus stands out by a demanding selection approach, with a style that seeks density without heaviness, power without excess, and a very Bordeaux form of elegance. The 2015 vintage, sunny but remarkably structured, gives this wine a particular stature in the still young trajectory of the château.
This cuvée blends 76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet Franc, proportions that well reflect the identity of a great Saint-Émilion dominated by the softness of Merlot but structured by the precision of Cabernet Franc. The harvest took place from September 23 to October 9, in a year marked by a hot and dry summer, then by August rains favorable to the continuation of ripening. The estate notes that September allowed a calm wait for the optimum of each grape variety, an essential element in such a generous vintage. The aging included 37% new barrels, bringing structure and discreet patina without diverting the wine from its fruit. With its 15% alcohol, Quintus 2015 has significant substance, but the balance rests on the quality of the tannins, the freshness of the plateau, and the precision of the blend. Merlot provides breadth, smoothness, and dark fruits, while Cabernet Franc brings tension, floral nuances, length, and a form of aromatic nobility. Today, the wine is beginning to enter a very interesting phase, still young for great Bordeaux enthusiasts but already capable of delivering a deep reading of the vintage.
The color presents itself in a dark garnet red, with a depth that announces a wine of maturity and structure. The nose requires a few minutes of aeration before opening on black fruits, ripe cherry, plum, dark currant, then nuances of violet, blond tobacco, cocoa, cigar box, and graphite. On the palate, the attack is soft, almost creamy, before the tannic framework tightens with great seriousness. The tannins are present, tight, but without aggressiveness, giving the wine a solid architecture and a true aging potential. The mid-palate is ample, deep, with a savory substance that maintains good hold despite the richness of the vintage. The finish prolongs the black fruits, sweet spices, dark chocolate, and a limestone freshness that avoids any heaviness. This Château Quintus 2015 will pair remarkably with roasted rack of lamb, aged rib steak, pigeon, veal fillet with morels, duck with sweet spices, truffle risotto, or an aged Comté cheese. Served around 16 to 18°C, after one to two hours of aeration, it will reveal more of its texture, depth, and refinement of a great Saint-Émilion.
Grape varieties: 76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc
