Chateau Pesquie Quintessence 2018
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Jeb
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Quintessence Rouge was first made in 1990 by Paul Chaudière. At that time this region was considered a backwater of the Rhône, only capable of producing cheap, bulk wine. Largely due to the efforts of Paul, and now his sons Alex and Fred, the Ventoux’s reputation has never been better and Quintessence remains one of the benchmark wines of the region and a tremendous value. Quintessence is a blend of primarily Syrah with a small proportion of Grenache (~20%) – all from 50+-year-old vines planted at an elevation of 250-350m.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An assemblage of 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache put together to approximate the final blend, the 2018 Ventoux Quintessence utilized a bit higher proportion of demi-muids than the 2017. The result is that notes of vanilla and baking spices accent the raspberry fruit on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and creamy, finishing long, velvety and simply put, deliciously.
Range: 91-93 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Ventoux Quintessence is mostly Syrah (20% Grenache) that was all destemmed and will spend a year in roughly 30% new French oak. It offers an elegant bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, ground pepper, and leafy herbs as well as medium-bodied richness, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's elegant, fine, and finesse-oriented on the palate, and will drink well in its youth as well as keep for over a decade.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
An elegant, floral-edged version, with charming cherry and plum purée flavors lined with subtle tea and garrigue notes. The silky, fresh finish is sneaky and long. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2023.
Other Vintages
2020-
Jeb
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Spectator
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Enthusiast
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Chateau Pesquié is the story of three generations of passionate winemakers. Odette and René Bastide, took over the vineyard in the beginning of the 1970’s and restructured a large part of it. They used to bring their grapes to the local Cooperative.
Edith and Paul Chaudière, René & Odette’s daughter and son-in-law, decided to give up their medical careers to take over the family estate in 1985. They traveled in many wine regions (in France, Spain, Germany, the US, etc.), became sommeliers and worked on terroir selection... This led them to create their own winery in 1990, first vintage of Château Pesquié. By then, it was one of 10 independent wineries: there are now more than 120.
Fred and Alex Chaudière, the two sons of Edith & Paul, have taken over gradually since 2003 with the firm objective to take it to the next level and show the world how amazing the Ventoux terroir is!
In the 80’s, Paul Chaudière began sustainable farming. When Alexandre & Frederic took over, they started moving to organic (first plot converted in 2007). The estate is now fully converted to organic agriculture (Ecocert).
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.