2025 Château Quintus Le Dragon de Quintus

A FIRST - EXPECTED EARLY 2028 Winery Château Quintus Château Quintus belongs to Domaine Clarence Dillon, the family behind Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. The estate took on its current form following the purchase of Château Tertre Daugay in 2011 and was later expanded with plots from Château L'Arrosée. The vineyards are situated on and around the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, where clay and limestone provide tension, freshness, and refined tannins. Le Dragon de Quintus is the second wine of Château Quintus and is made with the same attention to precision as the Grand Vin. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab. Region, climate and location Le Dragon de Quintus comes from Saint-Émilion, one of the most important appellations on the right bank of Bordeaux. The Quintus vineyards are situated on a particularly varied terroir, with limestone plateaus, clayey slopes, and different exposures. This variation gives the wine its combination of ripe fruit, freshness, and refined structure. The 2025 vintage was characterized by a warm and dry growing season, yet the wines did not feel heavy or overripe. The calcareous soils played an important role in preserving freshness. Merlot benefited from the ripeness of the year, while Cabernet Franc brought extra aromatic tension and precision. The result is a Le Dragon de Quintus that stands out primarily for its clarity, balance, and a lively, chalky undertone. Vineyards and grape varieties The blend of Le Dragon de Quintus 2025 consists of 74.8% Merlot and 25.2% Cabernet Franc. Merlot forms the soft, juicy heart of the wine and provides aromas of red cherries, plums, and ripe red fruit. Cabernet Franc brings floral notes, spiciness, freshness, and extra length. The balance between Merlot and Cabernet Franc is important for the style of this vintage. Where Merlot provides roundness and immediate charm, Cabernet Franc offers more definition and tension. As a result, the wine feels not only accessible but also precise and clearly connected to the chalky terroir of Saint-Émilion. Harvest, vinification and aging The grapes are harvested plot by plot based on optimal ripeness. In the cellar, the emphasis is on careful selection and gentle extraction so that the refined structure of the fruit is preserved. This is important for Le Dragon de Quintus, as this wine is focused on elegance and balance rather than pure power. The vinification aims to preserve the clarity of the fruit and the chalky precision of the terroir. Aging takes place partly in oak, where the wood influence remains supportive. In 2025, this approach aligns well with the character of the year: ripe fruit, fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a smooth yet structured mouthfeel. Color, smell and taste Le Dragon de Quintus 2025 opens with a bright and lively aroma of red cherries, plums, strawberries, and raspberries. Behind this, notes of rose petals, mint, spices, and a subtle touch of licorice emerge. The aromatics feel pure and precise, with a light chalky freshness that gives the wine extra tension. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, supple, and refined. The fruit is pure and lively, with red cherry, plum, and soft spiciness at the core. The tannins are fine and rounded, making the wine appear accessible without being simple. The Cabernet Franc provides extra lift and creates a floral, lightly spicy line through the wine. What stands out most is the balance between immediate charm and serious structure. James Suckling emphasizes the precision, definition, and chalky tension. Antonio Galloni describes the wine as supple and attractive, with soft roundness around red fruit, spices, and rose petals. Neal Martin points out the lively aroma, minty freshness, and refined tannins. The other reviews also confirm this picture: Le Dragon de Quintus 2025 is expressive, fresh, and elegant, with sufficient depth to develop further in the coming years. Summary of professional reviews