1996 Quintessa Red (1.5L) French cinnamon and clove

cinnamon and clove

plus a suggestion of leafy herbacity

Lingering acidity keeps the firm tannins at bay—the two opposites finding a peaceful balance

with just the earliest hints of oxidative notes starting to appear

1996 Quintessa Red (1.5L) French cinnamon and clove"A strong briar patch nose is accented by cola, creamy vanilla, and finely toasted oak. Its 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." Wine Enthusiast