91 Point Merlot Release and More

New St. Supéry reviews for 2023 vintage white wines and 2021 red wines from Napa Valley Editor Joe Czerwinski

2023 St. Supéry Napa Valley Estate Virtu | 90+ Points – A blend of 54% Sémillon and 46% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 Virtu includes both barrel-fermented and tank-fermented portions, although the blend spent five months on lees prior to bottling. Punchy lemon-lime notes meet grapefruit and melon on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is streamlined and tightly knit, easing into a lingering, crisp finish that suggests at least a few years of aging potential.

2023 St. Supéry Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc | 90 Points – While a small portion of the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Dollarhide Estate was barrel fermented in French oak (15%), the rest was made in stainless steel. Pencil shavings do show up on the nose, alongside grapefruit and passion fruit, plus riper notes of fig and melon. It’s medium-bodied, with a faintly silky texture that brings added interest to the finish.

2021 St. Supéry RU3 | 93 Points – A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, St. Supéry’s 2021 RU3 Red Wine is the winery’s top offering. From the estate’s Rutherford vineyard and largely fermented in wood, it even smells posh, with classy cedar accents highlighting cassis and cherries on the nose. Polished and smooth in feel, it’s medium to full-bodied, framed by gently grainy tannins that linger on the finish.

2021 St. Supéry Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | 91+ Points – A single-vineyard wine from the winery’s vast holdings, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dollarhide Estate Vineyard spent 19 months in French oak. Black cherries and cassis mark the nose, joined by hints of sage, bay leaf and cedar. It’s medium to full-bodied and decently concentrated, with a certain stern, tannic dustiness and a slightly tart finish. Give it a few years in the cellar if you can.

2021 St. Supéry Rutherford Estate Vineyard Merlot | 91 Points – One of my favorite bottlings from St. Supéry this release cycle is their 2021 Merlot Rutherford Estate Vineyard. Black cherries pick up hints of cedar and vanilla, but the variety’s ebullient fruit takes center stage on the nose and palate. It’s medium to full-bodied, supple and silky-textured, with a lingering, harmonious finish.

2021 St. Supéry Napa Valley Estate Elu | 90 Points – Sourced from both Rutherford and Dollarhide Ranch properties, St. Supéry’s 2021 Elu is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot, all aged 19 months in French oak. Blackberries and black cherries appear on the nose, subtly framed by hints of cedar and vanilla, but the fruit is definitely front and center. It’s medium to full-bodied in the mouth, with fine-grained, dusty tannins and a slightly tart, lingering finish.