Quintessa Proprietary Red 2022
(Rutherford, Napa Valley, California) - [DM 99] [JS 97] [JD 94]

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. We invite you to arrange a visit and experience Quintessa.

The 2022 growing season benefited from late fall rains of 2021. With this nutrient storage, the vines relied on their reserves to usher them through the following drought year. Dry winter conditions prompted early bud break, but a cool spring elongated bloom. Moderate temperatures throughout most of the summer meant veraison aligned with a more historic ripening calendar. 

Late-season heat punctuated the final stages of the vintage. In these moments, we saw the benefits of practices put into place years prior. In 2017, we honed techniques to build resilience against climactic pressures in younger vines and preserve more mature vines. By 2022, the makeup of the vineyard was predominately older vine material, and they beautifully weathered the heat. For the small percentage of new plantings, optimal row orientation, spacing, and shade management aided them through this period. This heat encouraged ripening and the smaller clusters accelerated harvest. Picking commenced on September 9 with our younger vines in the Riviera block, and concluded on October 1 in our Limelight block. The fruit showed exceptional phenolic ripeness, great levels of acidity, and an elegant balance.

Our 2022 unfurls with a lifted bouquet of complex and intense aromatics. Ripe plum and a bushel of red and black cherries give way to herbal and spice notes, all underpinned by tobacco and dark chocolate. On the palate, the plush dark fruit ushers in savory, earth-bound notes of iron and crushed rocks, while cassis and cocoa weave throughout. Our signature firm yet fine-grained tannins frame the medium body, and the bright acidity provides a lively freshness. The broad and enveloping texture leaves a long, lingering finish.

APPELLATION:
Rutherford, Napa Valley

HARVEST:
September 9 – October 1, 2022

SEASONAL RAINFALL:
12.5”

MACERATION:
20 Days Average Skin Contact

OAK:
60% New French Oak
39% Neutral
1% Terracotta Amphora

TIME IN BARREL:
22 Months

BOTTLING DATE:
July 2024

ALCOHOL:
14.5%

VARIETIES:
93% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Cabernet Franc
1% Carménère
1% Merlot
1% Petit Verdot

VINEYARD BLOCKS (in descending order):
Dragon’s Terrace, Las Casas, Monte Cruz, Corona, Silver Sur, Mt Calisse, Howard’s Million, Silver Norte, Limelight, Bench, Riviera, Lake, Canyon, Winery, Tesoro

Ratings & Reviews

99 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Such an incredible wine here - one of the stars of the September releases. Smells amazing, cooling blueberries with fragrant blackcurrants, edges of florality - totally inviting scents. Full and filling in the mouth, this is ample with such a layered effect, super vertical and elongated. Tight and a little tense but it really works - such balance between black fruit, dried herbs, high acidity and a profound structure. Refined and beautifully presented. So much life, so much energy - this is pure class. A wine you don't want to put down. Feels hands off despite such concentration and power. Ends salty with sticky liquorice, mint and cooling wet stones. You could definitely drink this now but it will age too! 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot complete the blend. One of the final few vintages with Rodrigo Soto at the helm - he stepped down last year to concentrate on his family project Far Mountain in Sonoma Valley which is worth following. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg." - Georgina Hindle (Jul 2025)

97 Points - James Suckling:
"So sweet and purely fruity on the nose, then layered, sophisticated, detailed and complex on the palate. Full-bodied and fully tannic, yet the fine-sand tannins are beautifully integrated, with ripe red and black cherries, raspberries, blueberries and cocoa. Elegant, intricate, charming and quite fresh. Made from 93% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 1% each of carmenere, petit verdot and merlot." (Apr 2025)

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Deep purple-hued, the 2022 Proprietary Red offers cassis, blue fruits, candied violets, and sweet spice-driven aromatics. It's medium to full-bodied, lush, soft, and sexy on the palate, with velvety tannins and a great finish. This upfront, supple beauty is ready to go and will drink well over the coming 10-12 years or so. Drink 2025-2036." (Sep 2025)