RU3 is the signature expression of St. Supéry’s Rutherford Estate Vineyard. This 2019 vintage represents a trinity of the vineyard’s best blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot grown on the Rutherford Bench, a geologic marvel of well-drained, mineral-rich alluvial soils and sandy clay loam that yields a world-renowned complexity of flavor. Handcrafted at every turn, RU3’s fruit is hand-sorted twice, first as clusters and then individual berries and placed in barrels that are hand-rolled during fermentation. A mere two hundred cases of this singular wine were produced, the pride of winemaker Michael Scholz. Watch the RU3 Video.
Tasting Notes
A dark red and purple hued wine with classic Rutherford aromatics of fragrant blackberry, black pepper, dusty cocoa powder, tobacco, dried blueberry, and violets. The wine is plush and nuanced on the palate with black plum, blackberry, anise, and espresso notes that linger to the long, pleasing finish. The 2019 RU3 is firmly structured and concentrated with layers of elegant texture and fine-grained tannins for long-term aging.
Winemaking
The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool morning hours and brought to the winery. Clusters were sorted using a double sorting system. First, the clusters were sorted by hand, then run through a small de-stemmer before individual berry sorting to ensure the ideal grapes were chosen. These berries were delivered to a fermenter where there was a period of resting. Warm fermentation temperatures were encouraged along with gentle cap maceration to achieve the desired color and structure before an extended maceration time on skins. The wine was transferred directly to barrel for 19 months of maturation. Seventy eight percent of the blend was fermented in wood, forty four percent was fermented in small French oak tanks, thirty three percent was fermented in French oak barrels to add layers of complexity. The 2019 RU3 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot.
97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – “The clear standout in the lineup is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Ru3, a stunning blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot brought up in 78% new barrels. This vivid purple beauty gives up a deep, rich, full-bodied style as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, violets, pen ink, crushed stone, and graphite. It’s young, dense, and unevolved, with incredible concentration, so plan on hiding bottles for 5-7 years if you can. It’s a stunning wine that, unfortunately, is made in tiny quantities.”
94 Points, James Suckling – “Aromas of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries, vanilla, walnuts and wet earth. Full body with ripe tannins and intense fruit character. Juicy and velvety with hints of tobacco and soil. Long finish. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 9% petit verdot.”
94 Points, The Wine Independent – “A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon RU3 is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs a whole lot of swirling to bring out bright, youthful notes of juicy blackcurrants, fresh plums, and blackberries, with an undercurrent of dark chocolate, cedar, licorice, and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate has a firm, fine-grained texture and beautiful freshness supporting the bright, crunchy black fruits, finishing long with loads of mineral sparks. – Lisa Perotti-Brown 3/2023
93 Points, Wine & Spirits – “This is St. Supery’s third vintage of this blend of three varieties: cabernet sauvignon (72 percent), merlot (19 percent) and petit verdot. The fruit is a selection from St. Supéry’s Rutherford estate, blended by Michel Rolland, Nicolas Audebert and Michael Scholz. Its vibrant blue fruit ripened through the cool late season of 2019, the wine lasting on dusty tannins and purple berry flavor. This has a long life ahead. —J.G., Winter 2023
92 Points, The Wine Advocate – “A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot, the 2019 RU3 Red Wine is sedate and well-mannered, with notable but balanced notes of cedary oak framing black cherries, while hints of sage and bay leaf also make appearances. It’s medium to full-bodied, well-structured and balanced, with a velvety feel that nevertheless preserves some tension through the bright finish.” -JC, Sept. 2022
November 6, 2024
