Exuberant and confident, with powerful damson and black cherry fruit flavours on the nose. Chocolate and liquorice run through the palate from beginning to end, and this is full of signature St-Emilion glamour. It has a round and supple texture through the mid palate, but the alcohol hides some of the limestone nuance at this point - it will no doubt emerge more clearly with 8 to 10 years in bottle. Harvest 11th September for the Merlot grapes and 23rd September for the Cabernet Franc. 93 points

The 2020 Quintus is very delineated and focused on the nose, offering ebullient black cherries and raspberry fruit, crushed stone and a subtle marine element that develops with aeration; great energy here. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, a perfect line of acidity and just a slight bitterness that imparts the necessary tension and sapidity on the finish. This is a very suave Saint-Émilion that will be difficult to resist in its youth. 92-94 points

The 2020 Quintus is a blend of 62.5% Merlot and 37.5% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with an alcohol of 15.4%. Displaying a deep purple-black color, it leaps from the glass with bold notes of crushed blackberries, boysenberries and stewed plums, plus suggestions of chocolate mint, clove oil, lilacs and star anise. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with rich black fruits and floral accents, framed by well-balanced acidity and finely grained tannins, finishing with great length and impressive energy. Judging from this barrel sample, this is the finest, most complex and complete Quintus yet—bravo! 95-97 points

Purplish crimson with a healthy glow. Much firmer somehow on the nose than most of the other wines from this appellation. Opulent palate entry but then very sophisticated drive. Distinctively focussed and much drier than most St-Émilions with limestone influence well in evidence. Already persistent. Lean, fresh tannins on the finish. Not in the r ich camp but expressive in its own style. 16.5++ points

Refined and subtle to smell, Cabernet Franc finesse plus ripe blackberry Merlot; both full-bodied and refined, fresh in acidity, finely dry in tannin; pure and sweet in fruit, quite complex and aromatic, but it is also a touch fiery in impression (so, not exactly an “easy” mouthful), long across the palate, gently racy, mouthcoating, and with fine, sweet, fragrant length. Fine wine, but the tannins rendered a little harder and drier on the (warm) finish by the alcohol level. Refined St-Emilion in a very well-managed, but clear current “hot-year” style. Drink 2028–40+. 92–93 points