Quintessa 2015

A very warm year with a small crop – “This was a concentrated vintage, early and fast. We were finished before start of October,” winemaker Rebekah Wineburg said. A lovely coffee nose, and the early palate is rich and supple, opulent, dense and concentrated. It’s hot though, an unmissable alcohol heat that dominates the mid palate and takes the focus off that fine black fruit and violet perfume. At this particular moment it’s less successful than the 2017, 2016, 2014 2013 or 2010 that are part of this tasting. It lacks that wash of juice that refreshes the beautiful dryness of the others; the alcohol dominates the finish and makes it seem simply dry. I wonder if those tannins will get sweeter?