2021 Quintessa Illumination

For years, Quintessa was the only wine made at the winery, but recently there is also the Illumination, the white counterpart of Quintessa, made from 50% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, 30% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon. The 2021 Illumination is a fresh and fragrant wine, with an intensity of flavor and compelling texture. Notes of grapefruit, lemon and white peach provide suspense, while botanical floral aromas of orange blossom, quince, lemongrass and thyme provide complexity and suspense. A bright and lively mouthfeel, with aromas of citrus, hints of elderflower and a clear minerality are balanced by a creamy texture and a medium-bodied, layered and lingering finish.

ABOUT QUINTESSA

HIDDEN IN THE HEART OF RUTHERFORD, Quintessa is set on a 280-hectare site that reflects a diversity of geology, biodiversity, exposures and microclimates. Inspired by this distinctive terrain, founders Agustin and Valeria Huneeus believed it was destined to become one of the world's greatest wine estates. Today, a total of 160 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère on 26 vineyard blocks. Each block is harvested - organically and biodynamically - and vinified individually to preserve the nuances of the land

Depending on the harvest year, Quintessa may include some or all of the five varieties grown on site: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère. The fruit is harvested early in the morning, then sorted and gravity fed into oak, stainless steel or concrete tanks and vinified. Once fermentation and maceration are complete, the wine from each lot is aged separately in French oak for up to two years. After the final Quintessa blend is made, the wine is bottled and kept for another year before release.