2025 Château Quintus Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

A FIRST - EXPECTED EARLY 2028

Winery Château Quintus

Château Quintus belongs to Domaine Clarence Dillon, the family behind icons such as Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. Since the purchase of Château Tertre Daugay in 2011 and later Château L'Arrosée, one of the most ambitious projects in Saint-Émilion has been under construction. The vineyards are situated on a spectacular limestone promontory on the western side of Saint-Émilion, featuring multiple exposures and an exceptional combination of limestone, clay, and slopes. Château Quintus is now regarded as one of the fastest-rising stars of the appellation. According to Cellar Master Claude Diligeart, 2025 will even become the new benchmark against which future vintages of Quintus will be compared. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Origin, terroir and vintage 2025

The vineyards of Château Quintus are situated on a dramatic limestone plateau in Saint-Émilion. The combination of limestone, clay, and elevation changes gives the wine its characteristic tension, minerality, and refined tannins. Due to its location, Quintus benefits from both sun exposure and natural freshness, which is a significant advantage, especially in warmer years.

The 2025 vintage was characterized by a sunny and warm growing season with small, concentrated grapes. Thanks to intensive work in the vineyard and a deep understanding of the terroirs, the grapes remained remarkably fresh and energetic. According to vineyard manager Pauline Comin, 2025 combines the structure of 2019, the depth of 2020, and the energy of 2022 in a single vintage. The harvest took place between September 8 and 22, 2025 , relatively early but under ideal conditions.

Vineyards and grape varieties

Château Quintus 2025 consists of 73.2% Merlot and 26.8% Cabernet Franc . That relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc gives the wine extra tension, floral refinement, and length, while Merlot provides depth, richness, and texture. The blend clearly demonstrates the philosophy of Quintus: combining ripeness with precision and terroir expression.

Merlot provides a broad, generous core of dark fruit, while Cabernet Franc adds extra lift and aromatic definition. Moreover, the chalky soils impart a subtle mineral tension that, according to the château, is essential for the style of Quintus. According to Cellar Master Claude Diligeart, the blend was established early on and immediately confirmed itself as exceptionally strong.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The grapes were harvested plot by plot at optimal ripeness and carefully selected to process only perfectly healthy fruit. The small berries of 2025 yielded concentrated must with high aromatic intensity and ripe phenols.

Vinification at Quintus revolves around precision and balance. Extraction is controlled to build structure without losing finesse. The wine ages in 40% new French oak barrels , sufficient to impart extra texture and refinement without overshadowing the terroir. The provisional alcohol content is 14% , yet remarkably, the wine remains fresh, energetic, and exceptionally harmonious.

Style, scent and taste

Château Quintus 2025 opens deep and expressive with black cherries, ripe plums, cassis, and dark forest fruit. These are followed by spices, liquorice, dark chocolate, and floral notes, along with subtle mineral nuances and a refined chalky tension.

The first impression on the palate is strikingly precise and generous at the same time. The château speaks of a broad, tangible texture that completely fills the palate, supported by concentrated fruit and a striking freshness. As the wine opens up, increasing depth and minerality emerge, with an almost briny precision in the finish. The tannins are present, yet refined and fully integrated.

James Suckling calls Quintus 2025 a beautiful expression of fruit with focus and definition and awards the wine 97-98 points. Jean-Marc Quarin praises the precision and intense aromatic development, while Neal Martin emphasizes the dark chocolate notes and luxurious finish. William Kelley speaks of a concentrated wine with youthful tannins and a classic, graphite-like finish. What impresses most is the combination of power, freshness, and refinement, without ever becoming heavy.

Development and storage potential

Château Quintus 2025 possesses the structure, freshness, and concentration to age excellently. In its youth, the wine will impress primarily with its deep fruit core, tension, and floral precision.

With further bottle aging, more notes of graphite, cigar box, dark chocolate, dried herbs, and earthy nuances develop. The combination of ripe fruit, Cabernet Franc, and chalky terroirs suggests a long lifespan. A drinking window from approximately 2032 to 2060 seems realistic, depending on personal preference.

Summary of professional reviews

97-98 points – James Suckling: praises the focus, precision, and beautiful fruit expression. 97 points – Jean-Marc Quarin: calls the wine ultra-precise and exceptionally aromatic. 95-96 points – Bettane+Desseauve: speaks of a promising Quintus that increasingly reflects its terroir. 93-95 points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown: emphasizes black cherries, plums, and licorice. 92-94 points – Jeb Dunnuck: praises the complexity, length, and balance. 92-94 points – Neal Martin, Vinous: notes the luxurious style and dark chocolate notes in the finish. 91-93 points – William Kelley, Wine Advocate: praises the concentration, structure, and graphite-like finish. 93 points – Decanter: calls the wine immediately expressive and accessible. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.