By Chateau Quintus
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2012

The Climate
The 2012 vintage was uneven from bud break, which was disturbed by a cool, wet month of April, to veraison (color change), which took place over a long period. Fortunately, July and August were ideal: warm and dry. This fine summer weather enabled us to do everything possible in the vineyard to compensate for the poor spring weather. Our team worked meticulously to make ripening as homogeneous as possible for two months and removed any green grapes at veraison. The harvest for both red and white wines began under sunny skies. 2012 is a truly fine vintage for early-ripening terroirs such as ours.

Technical Information
Harvest Dates: From the 1st to the 17th of October
Blend: Merlot 89%, Cabernet Franc 11%
Yield: 42.5 hl/ha
Percentage of Production: 22%
New Barrels: 51%
Alcohol: 14.50%
Bottling Date: May 14th, 2014

Tasting Note
This wine has a tightly knit tannic texture and a beautiful, long, aromatic aftertaste. It is fruity, spicy, and oaky (the oakiness is normal at this early stage). 2012 Quintus starts quite smooth on the palate, showing ripe fruit and freshness that might be referred to as mineral, which is typical of the terroir. While 2011 Quintus can be considered a tremendously charming vintage, this 2012 is a more serious wine. Made from a very small crop, it has the potential to become a great Saint-Emilion.
[Information provided by Beyerman]

Wine: Chateau Quintus St.-Emilion 2012
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 05/31/2022
Tasting Notes: This has an almost Burgundian bouquet, in which forest-berry notes mingle with an aroma of wet earth in fall. The roasted character surely comes from new oak casks. Medium-bodied and rather sleek, the fine tannins now well integrated. Quite some savory complexity at the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold. Chateau Quintus vertical tasting. SP.

Wine: Chateau Quintus 2012 Saint-Emilion
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 05/01/2015
Reviewed By: Roger Voss
Tasting Notes: The second release since the owners of Chateau Haut-Brion took over the property, this is very tannic and certainly extracted with its dark chocolate flavors. It's textured, dominated by Merlot and richly lush under the tough exterior. [...].

Wine: 2012 Quintus
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: 2023 - 2033
Review Date: 02/2022
Reviewed By: Neal Martin
Tasting Notes: The 2012 Quintus has a rich and fleshy bouquet with upfront, expressive red fruit with vanilla and liquorice aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with lower acidity than its peers, just a tad smudged on the finish but with greater persistence than either Peby-Faugeres and Canon-la-Gaffeliere. Tasted twice with consistent notes, the second perhaps just a little drier than the first. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Wine: 2012 Quintus
Score/Rating: 90
Suggested Drinking Window: 2022-2030
Review Date: 02/16/2023
Reviewed By: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Tasting Notes: Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Quintus delivers pretty notes of kirsch, raspberry pie, and dried roses, with underlying suggestions of star anise, dried herbs, and unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft-spoken and savory, with powdery tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing savory.

Wine: 2012 Chateau Quintus (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Score/Rating: 90
Review Date: 05/15/2015
Reviewed By: Jeff Leve
Tasting Notes: Sweet black raspberries, fresh cherries and soft tannins, with a spicy character, the wine is medium/full bodied, ending with a melange of clean red fruits.

Wine: Chateau Quintus St.-Emilion 2012
Score/Rating: 90
Review Date: 03/31/2015
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: Briar, black currant and licorice root notes form the core, with good energy to the briary grip. A tobacco lining runs through the finish. Shows good length and cut overall. [...].

Wine: 2012 Quintus
Score/Rating: 89
Suggested Drinking Window: 2015 - 2030
Review Date: 04/29/2015
Reviewed By: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasting Notes: The 2012 Quintus (89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) is made in a firm, structured style with a hint of minerality, dark plum and black currant fruit, touches of cherries and spice, along with some background oak. It is medium-bodied, well-made, and pure. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.

Wine: Chateau Quintus, St-Emilion, Grand Cru, Bordeaux, 2012
Score/Rating: 88
Suggested Drinking Window: 2019 - 2027
Review Date: 11/05/2019
Reviewed By: James Lawther MW
Tasting Notes: There's more depth than in the 2013 grand vin, but it lacks true definition. Merlot provides sweetness and volume, and the oak adds a touch of char. The tannins have been handled well. The yield was generous, at 42.5hl/ha. [...].

Wine: Ch Quintus 2012 St-Emilion
Score/Rating: 14/5/20
Review Date: 06/14/2022
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: Tasted blind. Slightly cloudy crimson. Grainy, 'gritty' nose. Fruit seems tired with a suggestion of oxidation. Hot, very drying finish. Ch Pavie?