Winemaker Notes
Quintessence Rouge was first made in 1990 by Paul Chaudière. At that time this region was considered a backwater of the Rhône, only capable of producing cheap, bulk wine. Largely due to the efforts of Paul, and now his sons Alex and Fred, the Ventoux’s reputation has never been better and Quintessence remains one of the benchmark wines of the region and a tremendous value. Quintessence is a blend of primarily Syrah with a small proportion of Grenache (~20%) – all from 50+-year-old vines planted at an elevation of 250-350m.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Ventoux Quintessence is mostly Syrah (20% Grenache) that was all destemmed and will spend a year in roughly 30% new French oak. It offers an elegant bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, ground pepper, and leafy herbs as well as medium-bodied richness, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's elegant, fine, and finesse-oriented on the palate, and will drink well in its youth as well as keep for over a decade.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An assemblage of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache put together to approximate the final blend, the 2018 Ventoux Quintessence utilized a bit higher proportion of demi-muids than the 2017. The result is that notes of vanilla and baking spices accent the raspberry fruit on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and creamy, finishing long, velvety and simply put, deliciously.
Range: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
An elegant, floral-edged version, with charming cherry and plum purée flavors lined with subtle tea and garrigue notes. The silky, fresh finish is sneaky and long. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2023.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.