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
Moving to the smaller production cuvées, the Syrah-dominated 2019 Ventoux Quintessence reveals a deeper ruby/plum color followed by a beautiful bouquet of smoked red and black fruits, gamey herbs, spring flowers, and an almost forest floor-like character. With considerable elegance on the palate, medium to full-bodied richness, and silky yet building tannins, this is straight-up classy stuff. It will benefit from a year or three of bottle age and drink nicely for a solid decade.
Range: 92-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Marked by bold cherry fruit and hints of vanilla, the 2019 Ventoux Quintessence is another excellent wine from Pesquié. Medium to full-bodied, silky and elegant despite the heat of the vintage, it's concentrated, rich and long on the finish. Like previous vintages, it's a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, aged in a mix of barriques and demi-muids.
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Wine Spectator
The dark cherry and plum flavors are sleek and defined, framed with a judicious toast accent and inlaid with dried anise, black tea and singed sandalwood notes on the finish. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2024.
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.