{"title":"Friday 10\/30 Masterclass: 2x 99pt Quintessa with Antonia Huneeus","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"quintessa-illumination-sauvignon-blanc-2025-napa-sonoma-california","title":"Quintessa Illumination Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (Napa\/Sonoma, California) - [DM 97] [FS 94]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSitting on the eastern edge of Rutherford, at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range, Quintessa is a natural mosaic — an assemblage of hills and valleys with a variety of soils and microclimates that come together to reveal itself in a wine of elegance and harmony. Quintessa captures the very essence of Napa Valley from every vantage point. Here, the landscape rises and falls with undulating vineyard blocks set amidst natural vegetation and groves of ancient oaks. Dragon Lake is home to populations of water life and a wide variety of birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Illumination:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWhat started as a passion project for the Huneeus family, this limited bottling is one of Napa Valley's most sought-after Sauvignon Blancs. When making Illumination our ultimate goal is to produce a white wine of true character. We approach Illumination with the same care and attention as with Quintessa, with the aim of capturing the best qualities of our grapes and to craft a wine of harmony and balance. Illumination is alive with aromatic complexity, beautiful texture and bright fruit flavors.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWinemaker Notes:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2025 Illumination holds true to its name. Fresh and expressive, this is a wine filled with energy. The vibrant acidity captures the brightness of the season. We ferment with native yeast in a variety of vessels to coax different expressions in the wine. French oak barrels, both new and neutral, adds depth and a hint of oak spice. Acacia barrels provide complex floral notes. To preserve the pure fruit flavors, we utilize stainless steel barrels. Ceramic amphora capture freshness. The egg-shaped concrete fermenters offer minerality and richness on the palate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - Decanter:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Very expressive bouquet running the gamut from lemon and lime-bright citrus fruit to creamy apple and pear, with notes of apricot and hints of pineapple, mango and guava, along with a savoury note of anise. On the attack, one thing is clear: this is a seriously layered, complex Sauvignon Blanc. Its rich mid-palate weight and long, exacting through-line of saline acidity – particularly pronounced in 2025 – are striking. All that fruit in the bouquet really pops and melds together seamlessly on the palate, as the wine retains optimum freshness into the very long, viscous, fruity finish. That saline mineral character makes this one of the best food-friendly vintages of Illumination I’ve tasted.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Falstaff:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Charming, elegant bouquet: honeydew melon, gooseberries, white elderflower, a hint of chamomile, and toast. Good body, juicy, finely creamy texture, elegant acidity, flattering white fruit notes, vineyard peach, kumquats, a hint of lemongrass on the finish, good length.\" (Sep 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2024): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eComing from a mix of Sonoma and Napa fruit, the 2024 Illumination has a Bordeaux Blanc-like vibe in its ripe lime, orange blossom, mint, and spicy wood nuances. It brings plenty of sweet California fruit and is medium to full-bodied and concentrated, with bright acidity and a great finish. It's beautifully done and just an impeccable 100% Sauvignon Blanc from California. Drink bottles over the coming 3-4 years. Drink 2025-2028.\" (Sep 2025)\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SOUTHERN \/ AMERICAN \/ PACIFIC WINE \u0026 SPIRITS","offers":[{"title":"750 ml","offer_id":53633963852141,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/IlluminationSB.jpg?v=1721760920"},{"product_id":"quintessa-proprietary-red-blend-2015-rutherford-napa-valley-california-1-5-l-magnum-js-97-dm-97-wa-94-ws-93-copy","title":"Quintessa Proprietary Red Blend 2015 - 1.5L Magnum - (Rutherford, Napa Valley, California) - [JS 97] [DM 97] [OB 95] [WA 94] [WS 93]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSitting on the eastern edge of Rutherford, at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range, Quintessa is a natural mosaic — an assemblage of hills and valleys with a variety of soils and microclimates that come together to reveal itself in a wine of elegance and harmony. Quintessa captures the very essence of Napa Valley from every vantage point. Here, the landscape rises and falls with undulating vineyard blocks set amidst natural vegetation and groves of ancient oaks. Dragon Lake is home to populations of water life and a wide variety of birds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Wine:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe 2015 Quintessa is a seductive wine beginning with intense black fruits and warm spice and finishing with dense yet silky tannin. Opening with aromas of black cherry and blackcurrant, the wine expands in the glass as notes of clove, bay leaves, and dark chocolate layering on top of crushed rock, graphite and red earth. Fine grained tannin and dense fruit bound together by lively acidity and a long finish complete the picture and promise further pleasure in the years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2015 season began beautifully, with ample rains a welcome sight after three years of drought. Warm late winter temperatures prompted an early budbreak and ultimately one of the earliest harvests on record for Quintessa. Overall, yields were low with outstanding quality as we began harvest in the early morning of September 2nd. Harvest continued at a fast pace, completing on September 30th. A whirlwind of activity that produced a classic Quintessa vintage of opulence, texture, and length. Truly a collector's vintage for its low yields and exceptional quality, the 2015 Quintessa will age gracefully for many years. - Rebekah Wineburg\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppellation: Rutherford\u003cbr\u003eHarvest Dates: September 2-September 30, 2015\u003cbr\u003eVarietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenere\u003cbr\u003eMaceration: 19 days average\u003cbr\u003eTime in Oak: 21 months\u003cbr\u003eOak: 100% French, 75% New, from diverse forests north of the Loire River\u003cbr\u003eAlcohol: 14.5%\u003cbr\u003eVineyard Blocks (in descending order): Dragon's Terrace, Bench, Corona Sur, Mont Calisse, Cruz del Sur, Limelight, Riviera Sur, Las Casas, Corona Norte, Alcantara, Silver South, Corral, Lake Terrace, Canyon, Tesoro\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e97 Points - James Suckling:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn intricate, floral, spicy bottle bouquet shows this is beginning to age beautifully. Violet, rose, clove and bay laurel aromas, then a firm, velvety palate with lush blueberries, rose hips and black cherries. It’s elegant, delicious and beginning to hit its prime. From a small, concentrated crop in a very warm drought year. Drink now or hold.\u003c\/span\u003e\" (Apr 2025)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e97 Points - Decanter Magazine:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Heading into harvest at the peak of the California drought years, the 2015 vintage also marks the first full vintage produced by winemaker Rebekah Wineburg. ‘We saw a small crop with small berries and incredible concentration. Not a hot year but warm,’ she recalls. What a drop-dead lovely wine sporting red, black, and blue-toned fruit flavours and aromas, with enticing cardamom and sweet cedar. Expansive and voluminous on the palate with divine concentration lifted by a spine of tingly acidity. The tannins are almost feathery, light, and delicate, yet present and built on a long, seamless finish. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère. Harvest: September 2 – September 30, 2015. 21 months in 75% new French oak barrel.\" - Jonathan Cristaldi (Feb 2023)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e95 Points - Owen Bargreen:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The 2015 Quintessa Red Wine is shows good richness and wonderful poise from this great vintage in Napa Valley. The wine is a silky proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. The wine starts off with an ultra dark fruit profile with mocha, tar, sweet pipe tobacco and creme de cassis. The palate reveals an incredible mouthfeel and texture. Beautifully balanced, this shows ripe Turkish coffee, black tea, rich tobacco leaf and black cherry compote flavors. This is a stunner that will age for decades. If enjoying young give this a three plus hour decant. Drinking Window: 2018-2040.\" (Dec 2018)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e94 Points - Wine Advocate:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eQuintessa's 2015 Proprietary Red Wine is showing some early signs of development, with hints of toasty oak, leather and dried leaves framing a core of ripe cherries. It's medium to full-bodied and nicely supple at this stage, showing gentle, softly dusty tannins and a long, smooth finish. At this point, there's no need to delay gratification any further.\" - Joe Czerwinski (Jan 2024)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e93 Points - Wine Spectator:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis has found its stride, offering gently mulled black cherry and boysenberry notes coated with licorice snap and dried violet. Has a subtle mesquite note in the background and some still-youthful juiciness through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. -- Blind 2015 California Cabernet retrospective (July 2025). Drink now through 2030. 9,000 cases made.\" - JM (Sep 2025)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SOUTHERN \/ AMERICAN \/ PACIFIC WINE \u0026 SPIRITS","offers":[{"title":"1.5 L","offer_id":53634003566957,"sku":null,"price":699.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/k1zdqimos5u9oetwceqo.jpg?v=1792809246"},{"product_id":"quintessa-proprietary-red-2023-rutherford-napa-valley-california-xx","title":"Quintessa Proprietary Red 2023 (Rutherford, Napa Valley, California) - [DM 99] [JS 99] [WE 98] [TWI 98] [JD 96+]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSitting on the eastern edge of Rutherford, at the foot of the Vaca Mountain range, Quintessa is a natural mosaic — an assemblage of hills and valleys with a variety of soils and microclimates that come together to reveal itself in a wine of elegance and harmony. Quintessa captures the very essence of Napa Valley from every vantage point. Here, the landscape rises and falls with undulating vineyard blocks set amidst natural vegetation and groves of ancient oaks. Dragon Lake is home to populations of water life and a wide variety of birds. We invite you to arrange a visit and experience Quintessa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 2023 Quintessa is a wine of remarkable balance and clarity. Lifted aromatics, bright acidity, and fine, precise tannins are all markers of the long growing season. The wine is harmonious and poised: an elegant tribute to nature’s equilibrium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 Quintessa opens with aromas of fresh cassis and violets, layered with notes of tobacco leaf and subtle herbs. The palate reveals a purity of fruit which is enhanced by depth and structure. Dense yet lithe, it carries the classic Quintessa texture and a long, graceful finish. Vibrant and complex, 2023 Quintessa captures all the nuances of its exceptional growing season. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAPPELLATION:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRutherford, Napa Valley\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVARIETIES:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOAK:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e60% New French Oak\u003cbr\u003e37% Neutral\u003cbr\u003e3% Terracotta Amphora\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTIME IN BARREL:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e22 Months\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eALCOHOL:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e14.5%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 Points - Decanter Magazine:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A marvelously bright red from winemaker Rebekah Wineburg, remarkably fragrant in its mineral elegance of the dusty red pulverized earth that is so characteristic of the Rutherford AVA, also appearing on the palate as fine, gravelly, cocoa-powder infused tannins. Pure-fruited, with ripe cassis and blackberry notes, salted dark chocolate, and a full-bodied personality, radiant with exotic floral notes of hibiscus and red rose, with a touch of dried sage and rosemary that adds further complexity. Incredibly elegant and built for long-term cellaring. The full blend includes: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. After 20 days of maceration, the wine was aged for 22 months in 60% new French oak barrels and 3% in a terracotta amphora.\" – Jonathan Cristaldi (Mar 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 Points - James Suckling:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\"Luscious dark fruit that’s soft and supple. Aromas of blackberries, currants, violets, graphite, licorice, spices, dried flowers and chalk. The palate is densely packed, with dark fruit, fine minerally tannins and bright acidity, bringing a rustic, ferric feel and a bright, fresh and focused profile. What an exceptional release. Made from 90% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc, 2% carmenere, 2% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Aged in 60% new French oak. Drink or hold.\" (Mar 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 Points - Wine Enthusiast:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The 2023 Quintessa shines with clarity, detail, and poise. A remarkable wine. Violets and lavender lift from the glass, carrying with them aromas of black currants, tobacco and cedar. Cashmere like tannins join brightening acidity delivering elegance, restraint, and durability for aging. Will benefit from decanting if opening now, but will develop in bottle beautifully.\" – Elaine Chukan Brown (Jul 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 Points - The Wine Independent:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It waltzes out with energetic notes of fresh black currants, wild blueberries, and violets, giving way to nuances of mint tea, pencil lead, and anise. The full-bodied palate is tightly coiled, revealing layers of black and blue fruit with firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and a racy line to support, finishing long and perfumed. Very impressive!\" - LPB\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Pure crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and violet nuances all define the aromatics of the 2023 Quintessa, another gorgeous wine from this talented winemaker. Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 60% new French oak with a portion resting in terracotta amphora, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with remarkable purity, ultra-fine tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. This pure, balanced, graceful, seamless beauty is delicious today yet won't hit its prime for a decade. Drink 2026-2036.\" (Jun 2026)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SOUTHERN \/ AMERICAN \/ PACIFIC WINE \u0026 SPIRITS","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":53634014806381,"sku":null,"price":259.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/rshrpsy5yd0vxhlydxw9.jpg?v=1758745100"}],"url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/collections\/friday-10-30-masterclass-2x-99pt-quintessa-with-antonia-huneeus.oembed","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}