June 2014 Club Newsletter

The State of an Estate Estate indicates a winery has the highest level of control over the growing and process and What does it mean to be an “Estate” wine? Estate, the winery is communicating that to the consumer by in its most basic form, means a winery controls the putting Estate on their label. An Estate wine is not winemaking process from grape to bottle. The something purchased on the bulk market and blended are grown on a owned by the winery and the to produce wine at a higher volume. It was created wine is processed, aged, and bottled at the winery. An to be the best and can be improved upon year after Estate wine speaks to consistency, especially if it is a year if the winemaking team is committed to a quest vineyard designate. The winery itself, as well as all of for excellence. The winemaking team at St. Supéry the grapes used, must be from the same appellation of is dedicated to this quest and we believe it results in origin, and that appellation must be designated on the outstanding . wine label. 100% of the wine’s blend must originate from an Estate property, to vintage. Get the Latest in Wine Education: Ampelography Master Class Learn how to identify individual grape varieties by the distinctive attributes of their leaves. This is a unique experience that St. Supéry Estate developed with Lucie Morton, world-renowned viticulturist and expert on Ampelography.

Our CEO, Emma Swain, recalls “When I first started in the wine business Al Brounstein of Diamond Creek gave me a long explanation on the importance of Estate After a brief tutorial paired with a glass of Sauvignon wines, and I think he is more right today than he was over Blanc, test your knowledge in our Ampelography 20 years ago. I believe Estate wines give the winemaker Vineyard with your wine educator. Once you’re able and viticulturalist the opportunity to improve every to match the leaf on the vine to the varietal in your aspect of their activity year to year as they are using the glass, return to the gallery for more estate wines and same grapes to make the same wines, especially when perfectly paired small bites. Shoes appropriate for you combine this with a vineyard designate. They can walking in the vineyard are recommended. review their practices and continually improve their Contact our Wine Club team at 866.612.2582 to processes.” book your experience. Estate Club Shipment

2013 Dollarhide 2010 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Estate Vineyard Petit Verdot This wine presents with This Petit Verdot is a deep, brilliant, sparkling hues of pale dark purple. Aromas of young yellow and green. Aromas of blackberry and plum are laced grapefruit, lime and Key lime with notes of vanillin oak, are encompassed by smoky mocha, licorice and a subtle oak with lemon rind, anise and hint of dusty . Flavors a subtle earthen element of wet of blackberry and briar slate. A combination of lemon combine with black pepper and lime flavors are enhanced and espresso. Additional by grapefruit and zippy lychee. complexity is brought on by The wine has lovely texture, barrel maturation. This Petit volume and length, with a Verdot has the structure and clean citrus finish. density typical of this varietal. It is a big, bold, structured wine.

Retail Price: $35.00 Retail Price: $50.00 Club Price: $28.00 Club Price: $40.00

The versatility of this wine is simply We are proud to be one of a few wineries wonderful. There is vibrant and explosive that produce a single varietal Petit Verdot fruit balanced beautifully by a nice acidity. offering. We love this wine because it is People love to enjoy this wine on its own so aromatic, exuding the fragrances of because it sets a tone on its own without the garden. It draws you in and rewards having to worry about a pairing. We you. Our Petit Verdot pairs beautifully recently had a Wine Club member tell us with world cuisine rich with spices. It is she would only drink red wines until she particularly divine served with dishes like discovered this wine. Now it is her “go- lamb with herbs and chicken mole. to” wine! We hope you are equally excited about this Sauvignon Blanc.

Learn more about this month’s wines: http://youtube.com/stsupery Divine Club Shipment Dollarhide Ranch

1999 Napa Valley There’s much more to Dollarhide Ranch than 500 acres Meritage Red wine of extraordinary . The former cattle ranch has seven lakes and an orchard of over 1,000 fruit trees. We (Before we named it Élu) grow 87 varieties of peaches, 34 varieties of nectarines, This wine exhibits deep hues of 19 varieties of apples, 16 varieties of pluots and more. red and purple. The aromas are We even have bees and make our own honey when the bright and forward with a strong bears don’t beat us to it. If you visit us this summer, concentration of ripe blackberry you’ll have a chance to try some of our fruits and and notes of anise and vanilla. The vegetables paired with our wines. generous palate is dominated by Every year a group from the Audubon Society joins ripe, sweet berry and cedar-oak us for a Christmas Bird Count. The 114th Christmas qualities credited to the extended Bird Count concluded January 5th, 2014. A highlight period spent in barrel. The flavors sighting this year was the Sandhill Crane. It’s not a are long and round, finishing with particularly rare bird in America, but it is rare to see firm, pleasant tannins. This well them in Napa Valley. Here is a photo of a Sandhill integrated wine shows silkiness Crane we took in April. and finesse with overall balance and harmony.

Retail Price: $100.00 Club Price: $80.00

Though the composition changes with each vintage, the winemaking style that Michael Scholz first developed with world-renowned enologist, Michel Rolland, remains the same. Michael balances the nuanced characteristics of the Bordeaux varietals Four years ago, the Audubon Society spotted the we grow on our two estate properties to only group of tricolored blackbirds they have seen in Napa Valley. In addition, our Vineyard Manager, Josh, compose a harmonious, balanced blend. installed over 100 nesting boxes for bluebirds. The This is a particularly strong vintage that birds responded well to their new homes. You’ll see shows why you would want to age a wine. It the bluebirds when you visit the winery. They are a is compelling because it is both austere and great help with pest control because they eat pests that have the potential to harm grapevines, like caterpillars, graceful. We recommend enjoying it over a beetles, and grasshoppers. special meal with someone you love.

Learn more about this month’s wines: http://youtube.com/stsupery 2014 Wine Club Shipments

Estate Club DIVINE Club February February 2013 Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Dollarhide Elevation 2011 Rutherford Estate Vineyard April April 2013 Napa Valley Estate Oak Free 2010 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard 2011 Dollarhide Elevation May*/June May*/June 2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 1999 Napa Valley Estate Élu 2010 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Petit Verdot September September 2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Semillon 2011 Rutherford Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard October October 2013 Napa Valley Estate Virtú 2011 Dollarhide Elevation 2011 Napa Valley Estate Élu December December 2013 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2005 Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Napa Valley Estate Élu

*We ship in May if high temperatures will affect the quality of your wines. Our moscato club ships in April, September and December. Calendar of Upcoming Events

Friday, May 16 Saturday, July 19 #SauvBlanc Day San Francisco Bay Cruise All day, everywhere! and Angel Island BBQ 9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $225/person Saturday, October 11 Fleet Week & Blue Angels San Francisco Bay Cruise 11:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $195/person Please call our Reservations Concierge at 707.963.4507 for more information and pricing.

please call the winery Estate grown. Family Owned. for reservations Sustainably Farmed. Certified Napa Green.

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery • 8440 St. Helena Hwy • Rutherford, CA 94573 [email protected] • www.stsupery.com •1.866.612.CLUB (2582)