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Clive Pursehouse, August 2024
While the 2023 vintage is described in Napa as the ‘vintage of a lifetime,’ the wines currently in the market are from 2021, a classic in its own right. Speaking to Cristaldi from his home north of the San Francisco Bay, I got a real sense of his excitement about the 2021 Cabernets.
‘I’m stuffing as many 2021s in my personal cellar as I can make room for, even after tasting well over 500 Cabernets,’ Cristaldi said.
‘What’s most exciting about the 2021 Napa Cabernets is the real consistency in style across the board. They are super savoury and have taken beautifully to a host of oak-ageing regimens. They show bright fruit with dried herb aromatics shining through on the nose and ultra-fine tannins balanced by a depth of fruit on the palate.’
‘Thinking about the 2021 Napa Cabernets in the context of the last few vintages, you’d be hard-pressed to find bottles that aren’t fabulous at the pull of the cork,’ he added.
‘These 2021s are like a multi-vintage blend of 2013, 2016, and 2019. They bear the structure of 2013, the freshness of 2016, and the dark-fruited character of 2019, but they are incredibly savoury.’
2021 St. Supéry Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 94 Points
Considered a Reserve wine, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are sourced from St. Supéry’s 202.34ha planted Dollarhide Estate Vineyard in Napa’s northeastern hills. Aged 19 months in 63% new French oak barrels. At double the price, this is a real step up from the Estate Cabernet, with excellent concentration, a more powerful frame of firm and plentiful tannins, with enough tension to carry the dark, round, supple black fruit character complemented by nuances of loamy earth, olive tapenade, and sagebrush. If it were me buying St. Supéry, I’d relish the price of the Napa Cabernet, but I’d fork out more and start right here. -JC, Aug. 2024
2021 St. Supéry Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – 91 Points
A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Merlot aged 18 months in 100% new French oak. Grapes are sourced from St. Supéry’s 202ha planted Dollarhide Estate Vineyard in Napa’s northeastern hills, as well as from their Rutherford Estate Vineyard. The winemaker is Michael Scholz. Very nice and polished with grainy textures, with mulberry and spiced plum fruit that has real staying power. Chalky minerals and hints of tobacco round out the grippy finish. -JC, Aug. 2024
2021 St. Supéry RU3, Rutherford, Napa Valley – 92 Points
This is a block selection of St. Supéry’s Rutherford Estate Vineyard. 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot were aged for 19 months in 77% new French oak, with half of the grapes fermented in barrels and the rest in stainless tanks. An expressive, dark-berried, concentrated red with more Rutherford dust quality in its mineral-laced tannins and more delicate raspberry and black cherry fruit notes. Cigar box qualities layer in nuances, along with vanilla and cocoa powder on the full-bodied finish. -JC, Aug. 2024
August 28, 2024
