Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Penfolds
Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Overview
Overview
The flagship of the Penfolds Californian release. Quantum is a Wine of the World that encapsulates a bold blending alliance. Northern and southern hemispheres bring prized cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley and pedigreed shiraz from South Australia.
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Napa Valley |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Cork |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | Now – 2053 |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 19+/20 Points | Matthew Jukes |
| 98 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
| 98 Points | Dave Brookes |
| 98 Points | Ken Gargett |
| 97 Points | Huon Hooke |
| 96 Points | Colin Hay |
| 95+ Points | Erin Larkin |
| 95 Points | Tyson Stelzer |
| 95 Points | Tina Gellie |
Matthew Jukes
"Quantum has so much more balance and refinement than I find in Bin 149. With harmony, succulence, genuine fruit ripeness (without over-ripeness) and gorgeous, subtle oak control, this is a superbly stylish wine with a very long finish that stays perfectly balanced and civilised throughout. While the concept is still a little baffling, this is a marvellously convincing wine. Drink 2025 - 2050. 14.5% alc – 19+ points"
Andrew Caillard MW
"Deep crimson. Lifted pure cassis, black cherry, mulberry, hint black olive aromas with espresso, mocha notes. Voluminous, chocolaty and vigorous with ample blackcurrant, black cherry mulberry fruits, dense fine/ al dente/ bittersweet tannins, superb mid-palate richness/ viscosity and beautifully balanced mocha, espresso notes. Finishes chalky firm and minerally with plush and seductive choco-berry fruits. Timeless, complex and perfectly balanced wine. An superb alter-ego Penfoldsian wine.
Dave Brookes
"A stunning follow-up to the inaugural 2018 Quantum release featuring superb cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley and South Australia. Matured in American (80% new) and French oak (20% new) barriques for 16 months. Deep, impenetrable purple/crimson in the glass. Such a beautiful-smelling wine. Opulent blackberry, black cherry and satsuma plum meld with hints of Christmas cake, baking spices, panforte, vanillin oak, licorice, pressed flowers, air-dried meats, espresso and earth. For all its head-spinning fruit depth and purity,there is a sense of grace here, a savoury elegance that reveals itself slowly on the finish with a fine, kinetic tannin framework that shows a ferruginous sheen at its edge and a sails onwards for some time."
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
An aromatic profile that transcends time and place. At once familiar, yet different. Penfolds seen through an intercontinental lens. A gentle swirl in a generously proportioned glass will elicit a treasure trove of sweet notes, seamlessly woven together. The pâtisserie has been busy... Crème brûlée, vanilla bean bavarois, Christmas pudding, tiramisu, licorice/aniseed and strawberry sorbet compete for attention. Savoury aromas of bresaola, smoked duck breast and beef carpaccio combine to induce a healthy appetite in the beholder.
Flavours and Palate
The palate is dense, brooding. The sweet notes on the nose manifest as flavours of dark/bitter chocolate with hazelnut praline. There is a ferric impression, akin to old coins, wet ironstone and fresh black pudding. Italian chinotto poured on ice. Middle Eastern dukkah and za’atar round out an intriguing palate. The acidity is fresh and lively, keeping the perceptual sweetness of the fruit well in check. The tannins are generous and structural, reminiscent of freshly brewed lapsang souchong tea.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Vintage Conditions
Napa Valley enjoyed good winter rainfall, which ensured the soil was fully saturated at the beginning of the growing season. Harvest across the region was one to two weeks later than usual with yields close to long-term average. A good vintage for cabernet sauvignon, with grapes showing bright acidity, powdery tannins, and strong varietal flavours.
Average winter and spring rainfall offered the vines in South Australia healthy soil moisture profiles for the growing season. Summer was typically warm and dry. However no adverse heatwaves were noted. Weather conditions during the final stages of ripening were dry with March rainfall below the long-term average. The prevailing autumnal conditions favoured fully ripened grapes with welldeveloped colours and flavours.
The Penfolds Team
Key to the success of Penfolds has been a lineage of visionary winemakers. There have only ever been four Chief Winemakers at the helm of Penfolds – Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, each a custodian of a rich winemaking tradition that goes back for more than 170 years.
Our current Penfolds winemaking team has more than 100 years between them as Penfolds winemakers. They are constantly refining and improving their work, whilst honouring the winemaking techniques of their predecessors.