2020 Inglenook Napa Valley Rutherford Blancaneaux

If Captain Niebaum was partially responsible for introducing Cabernet Sauvignon into Napa Valley, then John Daniel Jr. responsible for continuing his great-uncle's tradition of excellence and refining that variety to a respected status. In honor of Daniel's Cask Wines program that he began in 1949, the 1995 to 2008 vintages on bottles of this grape variety were originally called Cask and carried oak veneer labels. Until then, the wine consisted of 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in American oak barrels. The 2009 vintage, however, saw changes in both the name and production and aging regime, and now Inglenook's Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec - depending on the desired profile - all aged in French oak.

For years, Inglenook has been one of the best from Napa Valley and this Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Rutherford and white Blancaneaux is only distributed to the affiliated wine merchants via the Place du Bordeaux (including Grandcru wines) as this also applies to other icons such as Harlan. , Insignia and Opus One). Sharing its name with one of the The Family Coppola hotels in Belize, Blancaneaux - meaning "white waters" in French - is rightly Inglenook's preeminent white wine. From the first harvest in 1999 to the 2002 harvest, Blancaneaux used the characteristics of Chardonnay along with three varieties from the Rhone Valley – Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne – but since 2003 the blend consists exclusively of those three Rhone varieties in proportions that best match the overall look. Like Rubicon, Blancaneaux does not describe any grape personality, but speaks volumes about the Inglenook terroir contributing to the range of nuanced flavours, dense flavor and blend of aromatic interests.

The Blancaneaux 2020 is a blend of 81% Sauvignon Blanc and 19% Semillon. The Ingelnook blancaneaux is a truly elegant wine with wonderful aromatic complexity. Definitely floral, with delicate hints of rose and lime blossom and there is clear summer fruit with notes of pear, apricot, lychee and honey. Round, fresh and luxurious on the palate, the wine has a long, graceful finish.

FACT: The winemaker of Inglenook is Philippe Bascaules, who is also the managing director of Château Margaux.