2023 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc

Quintessa and the special place of Illumination within the domain

Quintessa, located in Rutherford in Napa Valley, is world-renowned for wines that showcase the estate's unique characteristics. In addition to its renowned red wine, the estate has been producing a white wine for years, originally a small experimental run. This wine evolved into Illumination, a separate project focusing on Sauvignon Blanc in various expressions. Winemaker Rebekah Wineburg works with a combination of grapes from the estate and select vineyards in Napa Valley and Sonoma County. The style emphasizes tension, aromatic depth, and a clean minerality that is highly prized in many vintages.

The origin of the grapes and the character of the region

Illumination is made with fruit from both Napa and Sonoma. The majority comes from Sauvignon Blanc Musqué from the Quintessa estate, supplemented by Sauvignon Blanc from southern Napa and Bennett Valley. Additionally, Sémillon from Calistoga adds approximately ten to twenty percent complexity. This combination of cool valleys, warm slopes, and diverse soil structures produces wines with ripe tropical fruit on the one hand, and tension, freshness, and minerality on the other. The variety of terroirs allows Illumination to produce a rich yet balanced profile each year.

The style of white wines from Quintessa

With Illumination, Quintessa aims to create a white wine that possesses both depth and freshness. The wine ferments and ages in a mix of used French oak barrels, stainless steel, acacia wood, concrete eggs, and sometimes ceramic amphorae. Malolactic fermentation is always blocked to preserve the natural tension and pure acidity. The style is expressive without being heavy. The result is a wine that is rich and rounded, yet zesty, vibrant, and aromatically precise. This balance allows Illumination to mature beautifully over ten years.

The 2023 Quintessa Illumination

The 2023 vintage displays an energetic and aromatic expression of the blend. The wine is composed of 58 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 32 percent Sauvignon Musqué, and 10 percent Sémillon. Fermentation took place in oak barrels, concrete eggs, and a ceramic amphora. The combination of Napa and Sonoma fruit gives the wine both maturity and fresh tension. The aromatic aroma is remarkably pure. The wine opens with notes of struck flint, citrus, lemongrass, herbs, peach, pear, and ripe pineapple. The structure is medium-bodied to full-bodied, yet remains fresh and precise. The balance between ripe fruit, salty minerality, and lively acidity is clearly present.

Vinification, maturation and the aromatic profile of 2023

In 2023, the winemaker again opted for a wide variety of barrels and materials. This creates a layered style with multiple textures. The French oak barrels used impart subtle spice, while acacia wood enhances light floral notes. Concrete eggs add roundness without adding oak influence and keep the wine taut. The wine is fully aged, preserving its freshness by not allowing malolactic fermentation. The result is a zesty, nervous, and aromatic wine that simultaneously displays significant depth. The finish is clean, mineral, and lingering, with notes of citrus and Granny Smith apples.

Color, scent and taste of the 2023 Illumination

The color is light gold with greenish reflections. The aroma combines citrus, lemon verbena, thyme, spice, ripe white fruit, and refined mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is lively, fresh, and well-structured. The texture has an almost chewy tension that provides grip and energy. The palate reveals citrus notes, white stone fruit, minerality, and a hint of tropical fruit. The finish is long, clean, and refreshing. This wine is excellent to drink now but can easily continue to develop well into 2030.

Would you like to order Quintessa wines online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you these when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway with ample parking. Click here for our address. You can read full wine reviews from publications like Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator.

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Wine and food pairing advice for the 2023 Quintessa Illumination

Sea bass ceviche with lime and coriander
The fresh citrus aromas of the wine complement the acidity and structure of the ceviche perfectly.

Grilled scallops with lemon butter and fresh herbs
The round texture complements the soft sweetness of the scallops and enhances the spiciness.

Oven-baked chicken with lemon and rosemary
The juicy structure and spicy aromas form an elegant combination with the fresh style of the wine.

Pasta with fennel, lemon and ricotta
The light creaminess and aniseed notes complement the mineral tension of the wine.

Grilled vegetables with tahini and a citrus twist
The salty minerality and lively acidity find a nice balance with roasted vegetable flavors.

Salmon sashimi with yuzu
The freshness and zesty notes enhance the delicate structure of raw fish and citrus.