Let's cut to the chase: I love Sauvignon Blanc, and I love great California Sauvignon Blanc. This state is capable of delivering some primo stuff when SB is grown in the right place and approached with experience and perspective. This particular wine, St. Supery's Dollarhide Ranch single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, has been one of the state's benchmarks for decades running. I think you can chalk that up to a few factors. 1) This vineyard was planted with heritage "clone 1" vine cuttings from Chateau d'Yquem in Sauternes. It has pedigree. 2) clone 1 does really well in California, and elsewhere, delivering the grapefruit-and-grass flavors that distinguish this variety around the world. Clone 1 makes TEXTBOOK Sauvignon Blanc. 3) These vines at Dollarhide Ranch are getting to be kinda old, I mean at least 20 years+, graduated from college kind of old and all growed up. That gives you a different kind of Sauvignon Blanc in my opinion. You get deeper mouthfeel and body, more honey and hay notes in addition to the grapefruit and grass notes.
That DEPTH is the quality that Robert Mondavi's To Kalon Fume Blanc used to have before it was re-planted. Today it's something that Dollarhide Vineyard now delivers - something that it has slowly grown into after many years of "don't change a thing" excellence. I really think this is a wine that every American should try at least once in their life.
Oh yeah, the wine... it has gorgeous pink grapefruit, quince, hay, orange blossom honey, almond and meyer lemon notes. It's generous on the palate, bright on the finish, distinguished, inspiring, and excellent. (95 Points)
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