Overview: In 1975, Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased a majority of the historic Inglenook property in Rutherford. After three years of careful study and planning, they launched an ambitious venture to revitalize the great Cabernet heritage of Inglenook. In 1978, the newly formed Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery created the first vintage of Rubicon, a proprietary Bordeaux-style blend. It wasn’t until 1995 that the remaining 90 acres of the Inglenook Estate came up for sale and the Coppolas were able to entirely reunite this legendary property.
Soon after the reunification of the Estate, Coppola decided to create a world-class proprietary white wine as a worthy partner to Rubicon. That wine is Blancaneaux, which translates to “white waters” in French. Many assumed the counterpart to Rubicon would be composed of white Bordeaux varietals; however, winemakers Scott McLeod and Corey Beck envisioned an elegant wine more reminiscent of the famous bottlings that come from the Rhone Valley. Blancaneaux, a blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, is made from certified-organic grapes grown entirely on the Niebaum-Coppola Estate.
Tasting Notes: One of the most appealing attributes of Blancaneaux is its almost chameleon-like ability to change in the glass over time. The longer it sits in a glass, the more pear and apple aromas reveal themselves. After sustained aeration, ?inty mineral characteristics develop as well. On the palate, pears and lilacs fold into flavors of apricot and ginger. By eliminating Chardonnay from the blend this vintage, Blancaneaux is now reminiscent of the great white Rhone wines of France, elegant and dramatic. Allowing this wine to sit on its lees adds weight and complexity, but the exceptional fruit from our Saddle Vineyard is the real success of this wine.
Vintage: 2013