This blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc owes much of its extraordinary quality to the impeccable perfectionist efforts of Quinault's owners, Dr. Alain Raynaud and his wife, Francoise. The 37-acre vineyard, situated within the Libourne city limits, includes some of the appellation's oldest vines. This wine enjoys all of the state of the art, cutting edge winemaking techniques (i.e., cold fermentation, malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees, and no fining or filtration). Yields are kept to a modest 40 hectoliters per hectare. The 2001 is a worthy rival to the 2000. Deep purple to the rim, this vibrant red boasts a gorgeous bouquet of striking minerality intermixed with raspberries, blackberries, and hints of blueberries, espresso roast, and oak. Medium-bodied, elegant, and pure, with an intense mid-palate as well as a long finish, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 12-15 years.
Wine Spectator 2004 (88 Punkte)
A wine that will give early drinking pleasure. Aromas of plums, toasted oak and tobacco follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fresh acidity and a medium tannic finish. Not quite as good quality as from barrel, but I like it. Best after 2005. 4,830 cases made. -JS
René Gabriel (17 Punkte)
03: Sehr tiefes, dichtes Rubin-Granat. Konzentriertes, rauchiges Bouquet, dahinter gekochte Brombeeren; kompakt. Saftiger Gaumen mit viel Schmelz und samtigen, gut eingebundenen Tanninen, wieder eine herrliche, weiche Brombeerennote, seidig, süss und zart, sehr viel Eleganz und eine wirksam eingesetzte Konzentration aufweisend. 17/20 2005 -2014
