Quintessa Illumination Sauvignon Blanc 2023
(California) - [JS 96] [WS 95] [DM 95] [WE 94] [WA 93]

About the Winery:
Sitting 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.

About the Wine:
Illumination mirrors the soul and substance of Quintessa, produced with the same philosophy of blending and expression of terroir. It’s a white wine with complex layers of flavor, profound textures, and the capacity to age. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, Illumination expresses the character of the sites where it is grown, amplified by our closely attuned farming and winemaking practices.

The core of the fruit for Illumination comes from the estate, planted in lower, cooler, moister sites ideal for Sauvignon Blanc—especially the Sauvignon Blanc Musqué clone responsible for the fragrant profile of our blend. In fact, Las Casas, our Sauvignon Musqué block, lies at the very center of the estate. Before Sauvignon Blanc is ripe, its berries are opaque, but as the clusters ripen, they turn translucent. When the sun hits them at harvest, they glow, and in a real way, illuminate the vineyard all around.

Building on the estate fruit, the winery intentionally adds lots from like-minded partners whose farming aligns with Quintessa's observant approach. From Bennett Valley in the north to Carneros in the south, the sites selected to complement the estate fruit are dramatically different—each adding unique character and complexity to the wine, to create a multidimensional whole.

In the cellar, the winery employs a wide range of vessels to ferment and age the wine, matched to the character of each fruit source. Neutral oak allows the fruit flavors and natural textures to shine. Stainless steel barrels bring Sauvignon Blanc’s piercing linear citrus to the front. New Frenc barrels, used for a small percentage of the blend, add spice as well as creaminess, and new acacia a dried floral note that echoes the same aromatic in the wine. Finally, concrete eggs accentuate the minerality derived from the vineyard.

Winemaker Notes:
The 2023 vintage of Illumination reveals aromatic purity and incredible depth. Classic notes of grapefruit peel, lemon curd, and white peach are layered with undertones of ginger tea, wild thyme, and clover blossom - the floral character a hallmark of the cool vintage. On the palate, flavors of kumquat and guava mesh with wet slate and elderflower. A lovely textural roundness is balanced by racy acidity and minerality. While vibrant in its youth, this wine's structure also promised aging potential.

Blend: 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, 10% Sémillon

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - James Suckling: 
“Vibrant, herbaceous aromas of lemon verbena and thyme lead to tangy citrus and nervy mineral flavors on an almost chewy, tangy texture. Medium-bodied, fresh and well balanced. Made from 58% sauvignon blanc, 32% sauvignon musque and 10% semillon. Medium-bodied and acid driven. Fermented in barrels, concrete eggs and one ceramic amphora. Drink now or hold.” (Apr 2025)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
An extraordinary white, with details of beeswax, honeysuckle and lanolin giving way to succulent white peach, nectarine and lemon curd flavors on a plush, juicy frame. Shows details of marmalade and candied ginger, with hints of litsea oil and lemon balm that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2035. 5,000 cases made.


95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
“The core grapes for Quintessa's Illumination white are sourced from the winery's estate in Rutherford, along with fruit from another site in South Napa and a vineyard in Sonoma's Bennett Valley. In 2023, the blend included 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, and 10% Sémillon. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed before fermentation, initiated by native yeasts in a mix of French oak barrels, acacia barrels, egg-shaped concrete fermenters, and stainless steel barrels. The wine is then aged in a variety of vessels, including concrete eggs, ceramic amphorae, French oak barrels, French acacia barrels, and stainless steel, along with neutral oak cigar barrels. There is some bâtonnage until blending and bottling, which occurs in March following the previous harvest. The wine is not fined but is filtered. Delicate aromatics of orchard fruits and tropical fruit, like white peach and white flowers, mingle with slivered almonds and a hint of sea spray minerality. What a pleasure-packed wine, so vivid with incredible tension, bright acidity, and a compellingly rich texture. Very long, layered, and generous. (60% Napa, 40% Sonoma).” - Jonathan Cristaldi (Aug 2024)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Lush aromatics of white peach, white blossoms, and grapefruit pith spin into flavors of lemon curd, white nectarine, and a refreshing sea fresh and savory finish. Crisp, delicious. Will continue to gain pleasing richness and depth with time in bottle, or benefit from decanting now.” — Elaine Chukan Brown (Jul 2025)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"“As usual, the 2023 Illumination is a blend of Napa and Sonoma-sourced fruit, including Sauvignon Blanc from the estate (Musqué), southern Napa and Bennett Valley, plus Sémillon from Calistoga. Fermented and aged in a mix of oak and acacia, stainless steel and concrete, it kicks off with scents of struck flint and pencil shavings, backed by notes of pear, fig and pineapple. It's medium to full-bodied but also bright, fresh and zesty, with a lingering finish.” - Joe Czerwinski (Feb 2025)

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"All Sauvignon Blanc from a mix of Napa and Sonoma fruit, the 2023 Illumination is light gold-hued with bright, juicy citrus, mint, and floral aromatics in a medium-bodied, soft, supple, incredibly charming and delicious style. It will drink nicely for a couple of years." (Jun 2025)