Château Quintus [formerly Château Tertre-Daugay] is now the fifth wine in the exclusive Domaines Dillon portfolio, the other four being Château Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion Blanc and Château La Mission Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc. The property has an excellent position and is benefitting from considerable investment. The 2012 was a real step up from the first release 2011. It doesn’t come cheap though and the first vintage [2011] was released at £1000 [$1500] a case. There’s better value to be had elsewhere in St Emilion clearly but the estate certainly has new found precision and polish. In 2013 Quintus absorbed the vineyard and wine facility at Château L’Arrosée.

• 2015 Mid depth; purple at edge; lovely ripe fruit; precise in aromas; layers and delicacy; some perfume; little chalk note; nice minerality to the wine also; depth to the fruit; nicely extracted but quite traditional in structure; little tightness in the middle but has real elegance. Some length to the wine. This will fill out so I may be underrating this currently. [76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 15.2% alc]. Drink 2020-2030. 92-94
• 2014 Deeper; earthy red at edge; vivid; glossy fruit; stone fruits; pretty Cabernet Franc; ripe; creamy and voluptuous; nice full St Emilion; has acidity and freshness too; some flesh; very supple and harmonious palate; spicy tones; extract and length. Very nicely polished. Best Quintus yet. [69% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted La Mission Haut-Brion. Drink 2020-2030. 91-93+
• 2013 Deep and glossy looking; purple at edge; deep; quite layered and impressive on the nose; prettiness; very polished; some oak – good entry and some material here. Remains a little angular and not that fleshy. Grip and acidity. [80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 13.1% alc, 3.51 pH]. Now includes recently acquired Chateau cru classe L’Arrosée, Quintus itself formerly Tertre-Daugay. Tasted 31/3/14 at La Mission Haut-Brion. 87-89+
• 2012 Deep and saturated; purple edge; very poised and focused nose; pretty and perfumed; lots of layers and depth here; much more layered than 2011; sweet entry, ripe fruit with a satin quality; real finesse and a substantial improvement on 2011 all round. Very good length. Delicate and silky. 89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc 92-94 Tasted April 8, 2013 at Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion
• 2011 Deep, saturated look but vibrant; legs; minerality, plum, some spice very composed; depth and actually pretty big ripeness; cool palate, lovely Cabernet Franc freshness; good density, concentration here; quite fine and sappy fruit; oak on the finish. Good length. Quite fine. Newly acquired by Domaines Clarence Dillon. 91-93+

Le Dragon de Quintus, [2^nd wine of Chateau Quintus]

• 2014 Mid depth; purple at edge; fresh briary and brambly fruit; some bubblegum; prettiness; little oak beneath; some intensity; acidity and freshness; quite nervous and high toned; elegant; lacks a bit of stuffing on the finish but may in-fill. [77% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc]. Drink 2019-2025. 86-88
• 2013 Mid depth; vibrant edge; some perfume; quite mannered; some plum tones; good entry and chew; some tannin and a little hollow. Finishes short. May fill out. [56.5% Merlot, 30.5% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.95% alc, pH3.6]. Tasted at La Mission Haut-Brion 31/3/14. 85-87
• 2012 Vibrant purple colour; nice depth to the nose; some spice; quite polished; soft easy entry, nicely ripe and soft; good purity and precision; fresh finish. Soft and easy. 79% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc. 88-90 Tasted April 8, 2013 at Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion