June 15, 2012 – Wine: 2003 Quintessa Red

I remember tasting this wine for the first time at my local wine shop with an array or 2003 Cabernets and blends.  This wine stood out for its quality, but a few others were noteworthy when factoring in their price (Meyer Cab, Cain Cuvee, and Ramey Claret).  I sought a half bottle and tucked it away for a special occasion.  The occasion turned out to be thanking a good friend for inviting me to the San Francisco Opera.  After 5 minutes of decanting and some vigorous swirls, this wine was wonderfully balanced, smooth, and still rich on the palette.  The fruits were unusually good for the vintage, starting with black berry, black cherry, mineral, and red currants.  This wine was delicious and it went down too quickly.


2003 Quintessa Red