Quintessa (scuffed labels) 1996

Professional Ratings

• 91 Wine Spectator
  Tight and complex, with layers of spicy currant, earth, cedar, toast and anise. Firms up on the finish, with crisp acidity and mineral notes.
• 90 Wine Enthusiast
  A strong briar-patch nose is accented by cola, creamy vanilla, and finely toasted oak. It's much the classic Rutherford big boy, with black-currant, licorice and tobacco notes. Yet it remains cool and light, not heavy or corpulent. Fine tannins close it out, leaving us with a more positive impression than in our original review, which appeared in the July issue.