Blancaneaux
2011
Founded by a successful Finnish sea Captain, Gustave Niebaum, in the 1880’s, Inglenook Estate in Rutherford California was once the most highly regarded of the earliest, great Napa Valley estate wineries. Over the years the estate passed through the hands of Niebaum’s descendants. Eventually the family started to sell off plots of the historic homestead. Even the proud name was put on the market in 1964 and sold to a corporation as merely a brand name. But in 1975, Francis Ford Coppola...
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The heavy rains that punctuated spring lightened our crop significantly, but having fewer clusters of fruit on each vine allowed the grapes to achieve greater concentration. We began harvest of our Viognier on September 23rd and continued harvesting over the course of one week when selections of fruit reached optimal maturity. As soon as the Viognier was harvested, we began picking our Marsanne. Then, on October 4th, we brought in the Roussanne, thereby concluding our white grape harvest before the rain began to fall. We were fortunate to have a positive weather pattern for these delicate varietals—the conditions show through in the quality of the fruit.
Because our Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier vines have well over a decade of age now, they are producing wines with exceptional palate density as well as more flavor complexity and mineral nuances. The grapes were harvested by hand and lightly pressed, with approximately 80% of the first pressed juice being used. Fermentation took place at 55-60ºF in small stainless steel vessels to preserve the delicate fruit flavors. Then the wine was left on the lees for 8 months.
2011 Blancaneaux presents a beautiful perfume of acacia flowers, oranges, peaches, pears and grapefruit. This rendition is very crisp, with clear, expressive flavors of citrus and minerals and great length and intensity on the finish. Rather than being tart or zesty, the wine has a delicate silky texture with great purity and precision. Decant for 30 minutes to experience its full potential.
From two sections of the producer's historic estate vineyard, this wine combines 53% Viognier, 33% Roussanne and 14% Marsanne, all fermented and aged in stainless steel. Together, they offer a dry balanced expression of green apple, Meyer lemon, tart pineapple and integrated oak.
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Caramelised lemons on the nose, aromas of citrus patisserie. This is rich and bold, not in terms of texture - that is smooth and crisp and lifted, but you can feel the alcohol here and the spice from the wood. It's a little severe and high toned right now, sharp, on the linear, straight side, so you're getting spiced citrus fruit and alcohol. Needs to expand and soften but there's good potential.
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Pear and white-peach aromas with some citrus follow through to a full body with layers of fruit and a fresh finish. Mineral undertones. A rather solid and delicious white. Viognier, marsanne and roussanne.
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Good assembly Rhone-type (Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier), full-bodied and robust, aromatic without being exuberant, to mature and quite opulent fruit.
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Francis Ford Coppola decided on the name, which is the name of the area of his hotel in Belize. In the 1990s it was a Chardonnay, then changed to a 35% Roussanne, 34% Marsanne and 31% Viognier blend from a shaded 8-acre site close to the Mayacamas Mountains. Too cool for reds. A novelty for him (like the Syrah and Zinfandel). No oak. 75% of juice is free-run. Aged on lees.
Fresh and well melded. Floral and honeysuckle of the Rhône varieties. Bone dry. Slightly chewy at present.
Subtle aromas currently, this wine will do well with plenty of air upon opening and a bit more time in bottle as well. There is a promise of more to come as it continues to evolve in bottle. Notes of white grapefruit pith, crushed lime blossom, a hint of melon and a bit of lychee are balanced with a savoury accent of sea salt. There is plenty of nuance here and an intriguing balance of richness with elegant presence, flesh on the palate yet tension and length. Nicely done.
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