Quintessa’s 2023 Proprietary Red is a Rutherford estate blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon and built in a distinctly Napa Valley, site-driven style. The final mix is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Carménère, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. It was aged 22 months in 60% new French oak, with a small portion (3%) in terracotta amphora; Decanter also notes “20 days of maceration.” Wine Spectator reports production at 9,000 cases.

The critical reception is excellent across the board, highlighted by two top-tier scores. Decanter (99 points) calls it “incredibly elegant and built for long-term cellaring,” emphasizing Rutherford’s signature dust-and-mineral profile and “fine, gravelly, cocoa-powder infused tannins,” alongside cassis, blackberry, salted dark chocolate, and floral and savory accents. James Suckling also awards 99 points, describing “luscious dark fruit that’s soft and supple,” with aromas spanning “blackberries, currants, violets, graphite, licorice… and chalk,” and a palate that is “densely packed” but kept precise by “fine minerally tannins and bright acidity.” He sums it up as “an exceptional release.”

Several other reviews reinforce that combination of richness and control. Wine Enthusiast (98 points) says the wine “shines with clarity, detail, and poise,” citing violet and lavender lift, black currant, tobacco and cedar, plus “cashmere like tannins” and “brightening acidity,” and suggests decanting if opening young. The Wine Palate (98) finds it “tightly coiled,” with “firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and a racy line.” Jeb Dunnuck rates it 96+ and calls it “pure, balanced, graceful,” noting it “won’t hit its prime for a decade.”

For drinking windows, Wine Spectator (95 points) recommends “Best from 2027 through 2040,” while Dunnuck suggests 2026–2036, underscoring its clear aging intent.