2015 Rutherford Quintessa Napa Valley Red Wine

Aged separately for as long as two years—some fermented in French oak (see “Rolling Out the Barrel”)—the wines are then crafted into a harmonious and elegant blend that comprises primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 is a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties planted on the estate, and 20 percent of the blend was barrel-fermented. Giving the 2015 Quintessa a score of 94–96 on his 100-point scale, “It has this beautiful core fruit,” she says. “This vintage has all the Quintessa hallmarks: fresh fruit that is both red and black, and layers underneath of more savory character, then dark chocolate. It has power, but it’s also very elegant. It’s going to age wonderfully for 20 years or more.”