Winemaker Notes
In the glass, the wine presents with vibrant yellow and green hues. Intense aromas of pink grapefruit and kiwi are met with a hint of pear and anise, balanced with seductive toasted oak char. Rich flavors of kiwi, lime and grapefruit zest on the palate combine while the toasted qualities of the barrel maturation have encouraged a full, rich mouthfeel with a subtle creaminess from sur-lie maturation.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Classy cream and vanilla oak over freshly leafy green fruits and lemon curd with subtle toasted almond notes. An ambitious fumé blanc style, but done with considerable restraint.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Dollarhide Estate Vineyard is a step up and has a much richer, more concentrated, ageworthy style. Pineapple, peach, white fig, and a touch of brioche all emerge from this impressively textured white. Drink it over the coming 2-4 years, and it might even keep longer.
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James Suckling
A flinty sauvignon blanc with plenty of dried-lemon and apple character. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. This is always excellent. Drink now. Synthetic cork.
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Wine Spectator
Stylish and vibrant, with mouthwatering cantaloupe, Creamsicle and pear flavors that are supple, juicy and harmonious. Hints of candied ginger and floral details show on the finish. Drink now.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 St. Supéry Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc shows excellent richness from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits outstanding aromas and flavors of ripe melon and herbs. Pair it with panko-breaded, grilled oysters. (Tasted: May 1, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.