The 2017 Quintus is super impressive today. Sweet floral and spice nuances give the 2017 its striking aromatic upper register. Rich and dense on the palate, Quintus is a bold, hedonistically opulent Saint-Émilion in 2017. Soaring Franc overtones play off the Merlot nicely, adding both aromatic presence and a real feeling of saline intensity that comes through, especially on the finish. Today, the 2017 is a touch exuberant - almost too much so. Another few years in bottle should help it settle down. The 2017 is not at all subtle, but it has a lot to offer. Here, too, élevage has done wonders for the wine.

A blend of 54.4% Merlot and 45.6% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Quintus has a slightly closed nose with aromas of crushed blueberries, fresh black and red currants and black raspberries with touches of black pepper, cinnamon stick, anise and tilled soil plus a waft of lavender. The palate is medium to full-bodied with great intensity and energy, displaying vibrant red and black fruits with wonderful acidity and ripe, rounded tannins, finishing long and lively. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, erobertparker.com, April 2018

Very fine and polished with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a focused finish. Almost Burgundian. - jamessuckling.com, April 2018

The 2017 Quintus was picked 14 to 29 September. It has a pretty, rather compact bouquet that clearly lacks the complexity of the 2015 or 2016 like so many Saint-Émilions. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is a tight ball of slightly ferrous dark berry fruit mixed with brown spice, although the finish feels easy-going and does not deliver the complexity of a top-drawer vintage. As such, I feel this will be suitable for early drinking rather than a vin de garde. - vinous.com, May 2018

Tasted blind. Mid ruby colour. Floral, quite high toned and laced with nutmeg. A gently worked wine, with charming blueberry and red-berry fruit at the core. Positively zesty acidity cuts through everything, but the tannins are delicate and fine. This is a lively, brisk example. Approachable already. (TP)

Not affected by the frost. 54.4% Merlot, 45.6% Cabernet Franc (usually 70/30) – the Franc from the vineyard that used to be L'Arrosée. Blended before it was put into barrel. There's a light floral note here, sweetly aromatic. Lifted, pure dark fruit with an aroma of graphite giving a mineral character. Juicy, mouth-watering and scented on the palate but could do with a little more flesh in the middle to balance that freshness. (JH)

There's a light floral note here, sweetly aromatic. Lifted, pure dark fruit with an aroma of graphite giving a mineral character. Juicy, mouth-watering and scented on the palate but could do with a little more flesh in the middle to balance that freshness. - Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2018