QUINTESSA RUTHERFORD VALLEY 2019

I’m giving this one a two socks review because it knocked both of mine off. Lisa and I were at Ruth’s Chris with gift cards that allowed for a bit of a splurge. I asked the waitress what she thought about this wine and she thought it was a terrific choice. Bruh, I was on the Kardashian side of the wine menu! After she poured a glass for my guest and myself, she walked off… and the water server leaned across the table and knocked over the bottle, spilling at least two ounces of this liquid bling on the tablecloth. The waitress saw it too and the expression on her face mirrored my alarm. Oh, well, we didn’t lose much of this gorgeous wine, thank Heavens. This wine was amazing. It’s a blend, mostly Cab with small percentages of merlot and cab franc, petite verdot and carmenere. Deep purple in color, the legs materialized after a nice swirl. At first sip, the wine had a smooth almost satiny feel in the mouth. Dark fruit, citrus peel, an herbal quality… there was more complexity but I failed to take my time with this as much as I would have if I drank it at home. It was just so darn delicious that before I knew it, Lisa and I had killed this bottle! Now: when I ordered the wine, the wine list said this was a 2018 vintage, but what the waitress brought was a 2019 wine. I didn’t notice until half the bottle was gone and I was practically smacking my lips so I didn’t complain. There was simply nothing to complain about last night at Ruth’s Chris, except the steaks. But with this wine on the table I didn’t even care that the rib-eye (though cooked to the perfect temp) just wasn’t a great cut of meat. What a perfect Saturday night. A leisurely dinner, a magnificent bottle of wine and a wonderful friend to share the evening.

What do the experts say? On Wine Enthusiast’s web site, this review is posted: This is a winemaker’s master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039. — Virginie Boone

Ken’s Wine Guide said: This opaque and deep ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon based blend opens with a black plum and blackberry bouquet with hints of pencils shavings and light florals. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with nicely integrated acidity. The mouthfeel is exceptionally well-balanced, delicate, silky, and seamless. The flavor profile is tasty black currant and graphite blend with notes of black cherry. We also detected hints of dark chocolate, black raspberry, and dried coconut mixed in. The finish is dry, and its dusty fine tannins linger and last for a while. The Tasting Panel would certainly enjoy this Red Wine on its own. With food, we would try it with a porterhouse steak. Enjoy – KWGTP