Inglenook, Blancaneaux - Napa Valley 2020
Blancaneaux, Inglenook's preeminent white wine
Founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, Inglenook remains the crown jewel of the Napa Valley under the stewardship of the Coppola family. The property has been bought by Francis Ford Coppola in the 1970’s and the wine is made by Philippe Bascaules, General Director of Château Margaux.
Produced since 1999 as a partner to Rubicon, Inglenook’s premier red wine, Blancaneaux is a blend of three estate-grown white Rhône varieties. Marsanne and Roussanne contribute body and minerality, while Viognier adds intense aromas of tropical fruits. These varieties are grown in vineyard blocks that enjoy full morning sun but are in the cooling shadow of Mount St. John by mid-afternoon. Like Rubicon, Blancaneaux doesn't describe any one grape personality but speaks volumes about the Inglenook terroir that contributes to its range of nuanced flavors, dense palate, and mix of aromatic interests.
The 2020 vintage
Inglenook has long embraced organic farming, and we were among the first Napa Valley wineries to have our vineyards certified organic more than 25 years ago. Our farming practices, combined with low temperatures during the winter before the 2020 growing season, made soil nutrients for good early spring growth available to all three of our white Rhône varieties. In turn, the leaf canopies developed early, and provided good protection from a heat spike we experienced just prior to harvest. The 2020 Blancaneaux harvest began with Viognier on August 20th and culminated with Marsanne and Roussanne on September 9th and 10th. The abundance of fruit was right on track, while quality was consistently excellent.
Tasting notes
Brilliant gold-yellow in color, the wine opens with inviting accents of Meyer lemon curd, honeysuckle, and white peach. Seamless and creamy on the palate, this is a nicely concentrated wine. It closes with lingering notes of chamomile and juicy Anjou pear and retains a vibrant tension throughout.
Francis Ford Coppola tells you about Inglenook: https://bit.ly/InglenookbyFrancisFordCoppola