Blancaneaux
2014
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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Blancaneaux, a white Rhone-style blend of estate-grown Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier, was created in 1999 as the partner to Rubicon, Inglenook’s premier red wine. Produced in extremely limited quantities from the 6.5 acres of white grapes grown on the property at the base of Mt. St. John, all three varietals come from vines that are more than ten years old and now showing signs of maturity by revealing more profuse aromatics, richer textures, and complex flavors.
Blancaneaux grapes are harvested by hand early morning in order to preserve the fruit’s natural acidity and delicate fragrance. A high percentage of the first pressed juice was used in the blend, which we fermented cold in small stainless steel vessels.
2014 Blancaneaux is extremely expressive. This year’s blend is made up of more than 50% Viognier, which creates a heightened fragrance of exotic flavors that include pineapples and white peaches. Round in the mouth and almost bold in its delivery of aromatics, the wine exhibits a freshness from the ideal balance of natural acidity. Enjoy impressions of Meyer lemon, papaya, and tropical fruits along with a hint of minerality from the Roussanne and Marsanne.
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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