Château Quintus offers a full 360‑degree view over the Dordogne valley and possesses an outstanding terroir composed of a wide variety of microclimates and clay‑limestone soils, which are perfectly suited to merlot and cabernet franc. The name “Quintus,” inherited from the Gallo‑Romans, means “the fifth” and symbolizes the union of the four cardinal points with the sky. In 2021, Quintus became one of the largest estates in Saint‑Emilion, bringing together historic plots that the Féret guide has recognised as Premier Cru. The emblem of the estate is a six‑metre‑wide bronze dragon created by Mark Coreth, watching over this wine landscape that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Le Dragon is the second wine of Château Quintus. Its name comes from the statue of the dragon that towers over the magical terroir of Saint‑Emilion, on the promontory where the vineyard is located.

Vintage 2021

The year 2021, which was not as early as the previous ones, was marked by a very mild winter and episodes of frost in April, whose impact was fortunately limited thanks to the well‑ventilated hillside terroir of Château Quintus. The 2021 vintage particularly highlighted the strength of the Quintus terroir: June was rainy, but the limestone promontory, with its topography and natural drainage, protected the vines from weather hazards and fungal diseases. After a relatively cool July, during which the development of the grapes progressed slowly, September brought a clear acceleration in ripening thanks to warm, sunny days.

Winemaking

Harvesting began on 24 September under very good conditions. The Quintus terroir did its work, making it possible to obtain a beautiful crop and ripe grapes with good structure. As every year, careful sorting was carried out both in the vineyard and in the cellar. This year, vinification had to be adapted to the nature of the fruit, favouring gentle extraction and low‑temperature fermentation, since this vintage, at harvest time, appeared more classic than the two preceding ones.

At Château Quintus, a very meticulous intra‑plot selection is carried out during harvest: from the hand‑picked grapes, only perfectly sound berries make it into the vats. The upper, middle, and lower parts of the hillside are vinified separately, and each vat is assessed in blind tasting, to allow the terroir to express itself to the fullest. After the final blend is composed, the wine is aged for 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels, where the tannins slowly soften and the wine becomes more elegant and refined in texture. New oak barrels account for 30%.

Tasting notes

A beautiful medium‑deep ruby colour. The nose is fruity and ripe, with notes of pomegranate and flowers. A delicate touch of oak; the attack is soft and silky. The wine develops on a pleasant, present tannic structure; medium in body and length, but always with a very charming red‑fruit character. Le Dragon is truly a wine of pure pleasure.