| Producer | Quintessa |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California AVA |
| Varietal | Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, Sémillon |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | U1009152 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
The 2023 vintage of Illumination reveals aromatic purity and incredible depth. Classic notes of grapefruit peel, lemon curd, and white peach are layered with undertones of ginger tea, wild thyme, and clover blossom—the floral character, a hallmark of the cool vintage. On the palate, flavors of kumquat and guava mesh with wet slate and elderflower. A lovely textural roundness is balanced by racy acidity and minerality. While vibrant in its youth, this wine’s structure also promises aging potential.
The core grapes for Quintessa's Illumination white are sourced from the winery's estate in Rutherford, along with fruit from another site in South Napa and a vineyard in Sonoma's Bennett Valley. In 2023, the blend included 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, and 10% Sémillon. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed before fermentation, initiated by native yeasts in a mix of French oak barrels, acacia barrels, egg-shaped concrete fermenters, and stainless steel barrels. The wine is then aged in a variety of vessels, including concrete eggs, ceramic amphorae, French oak barrels, French acacia barrels, and stainless steel, along with neutral oak cigar barrels. There is some bâtonnage until blending and bottling, which occurs in March following the previous harvest. The wine is not fined but is filtered. Delicate aromatics of orchard fruits and tropical fruit, like white peach and white flowers, mingle with slivered almonds and a hint of sea spray minerality. What a pleasure-packed wine, so vivid with incredible tension, bright acidity, and a compellingly rich texture. Very long, layered, and generous. (60% Napa, 40% Sonoma). —J.C.
An extraordinary white, with details of beeswax, honeysuckle, and lanolin giving way to succulent white peach, nectarine, and lemon curd flavors on a plush, juicy frame. Shows details of marmalade and candied ginger, with hints of litsea oil and lemon balm that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2035. —M.W.
| Quantity: |
