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St. Supéry Dollarhide, 2022 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 4.5 stars. This is a striking sauvignon blanc, a rare blend of passion fruit, citrus and stone fruit. Riding on crisp acid, this sauvignon blanc has pitch perfect balance. It’s impressive. -Peg Melnik
Michael Scholz is from a farming family that reaches back six generations.
“I grew up on an old Barossa Valley vineyard estate in South Australia where I earned my pocket money by doing farm and vineyard work,” explained the winemaker of Napa Valley’s St. Supéry. “My vision was to grow grapes, and I later extended that to winemaking.”
Scholz is behind our wine of the week winner, the St. Supéry Dollarhide, 2022 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 13.5%, $40, 4.5 stars. This is a striking sauvignon blanc, a rare blend of passion fruit, citrus and stone fruit. Riding on crisp acid, this sauvignon blanc has pitch perfect balance. It’s impressive.
“In 2022, we had a warmer vintage with lower yields creating terrific expression of flavor and opulence in the fruit, particularly in the old vine estate blocks of the Dollarhide Ranch,” Scholz said. “Warm summer, cool nights and lower yields maintained bright acidity, balance and concentration in the fruit. Coming from the oldest blocks planted in 1985, this sauvignon blanc is a wonderful expression of the variety.”
The grapes in the bottling were groomed on the higher elevations at Dollarhide, ranging 600 to 1,100 feet, Scholz said.
“The cool overnight temperatures produce great acidity, freshness and opulence in the wine,” he explained. “Napa Valley is known for cabernet sauvignon. The valley’s Mediterranean climate makes Napa Valley cabernet sauvignons great, but it also makes this an ideal place to grow all of our other varietals, particularly sauvignon blanc.”
St. Supéry first planted sauvignon blanc at its Dollarhide Ranch Estate in northeastern Napa Valley in the early 1980s, Scholz said. Today, the winery grows more than 9% of Napa Valley’s sauvignon blanc.
“Personally, I’m a big fan of sauvignon blanc, having initially worked with sauvignon blanc of the Adelaide Hills vineyards of South Australia,” he said. ”The flavors on the vine are exciting and the final wines are bright and opulent.”
Studying at Roseworthy Agricultural College in Australia, Scholz has a bachelor’s degree of Applied Science in Viticulture and Oenology. Today he’s vice president of winemaking & vineyards at Napa Valley’s St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery.
Founded in 1982, St. Supéry focuses on sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varieties. It’s one of the few 100% estate, grown, produced and bottled Napa Valley wineries.
“I think having grown up on an estate vineyard has provided me a solid viticulture background,” Scholz said. “It has been a tremendous opportunity and led to winemaking over the years.”
When it comes to winemaking, the most challenging part is usually the weather, Scholz explained.
“In good years, it’s a dream,” he said. “In other years it tries our patience and makes us reach and stretch our knowledge.”
February 27, 2024