PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Blancaneaux is Inglenook's own answer to the white wines of the Rhône Valley — a genuinely distinctive blend built from Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne, grown at Rutherford, the historic Napa Valley sub-appellation where Gustave Niebaum completed his winery in 1887 and named it "Inglenook," a property that remains, to this day, the oldest bonded winery in California. Inglenook has practiced organic farming since the 1980s, and was one of the very first Napa Valley estates to receive organic certification, back in 1994 — a genuine point of pride that continues to shape every wine the estate produces, Blancaneaux included.
The 2021 vintage runs 43% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, and 27% Marsanne, fermented in a deliberate split between stainless steel drums (60%) and 500-liter oak puncheons (40%) — a technique designed to preserve the wine's natural freshness while still building some textural richness from the oak component. Inglenook's own team describes the estate as "forever a work-in-progress," with ongoing experimentation embedded directly in its DNA as it continues evaluating climate change, vine age, and vintage variation year over year.
The critical reception has been genuinely strong: James Suckling awarded 95 Points, describing the wine as "full and fresh with beautiful fruit and firm phenolics that give excellent texture," with notes of "acacia" and "lemon rind," alongside "dried fruits at the end," recommending it be enjoyed "or held" through 2028. Wine-Searcher's aggregated critic data places the vintage at 93/100 overall. Wine.com's own tasting found "intriguing Viognier-derived florals and gingery spice, framed by hints of crushed stone and pineapple," describing the wine as "medium-bodied, plump and silky in feel, with a long, refreshing finish." Inglenook's own winemaker notes describe the 2021 as showing "pale gold color," leading "with aromas of honey, white peach, and pomelo," the palate "fresh," with "absolute purity of flavor," a "lingering minerality" carrying "the wine through a long aromatic finish" — the team calling it "an eminently ageable vintage." This is genuinely serious, food-friendly white Rhône-style wine from one of Napa Valley's most historically significant estates.
Inglenook Blancaneaux is produced at the Inglenook estate in Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, founded when Gustave Niebaum completed his winery in 1887, making it the oldest bonded winery in California to this day. Inglenook has practiced organic farming since the 1980s and was one of the first Napa Valley vineyards to be certified organic in 1994.
The 2021 vintage is a blend of 43% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, and 27% Marsanne, fermented in a combination of stainless steel drums (60%) and 500-liter oak puncheons (40%) — a process designed to balance freshness with textural depth.
James Suckling — 95 Points:
"Full and fresh with beautiful fruit and firm phenolics that give excellent texture. Some acacia. Lemon rind. Dried fruits at the end." Drink or hold until 2028.
Wine-Searcher aggregated critics — 93/100
Inglenook (official winemaker's tasting notes):
"The 2021 Blancaneaux, with its pale gold color, leads with aromas of honey, white peach, and pomelo. Fresh on the palate, with absolute purity of flavor, a lingering minerality carries the wine through a long aromatic finish. This promises to be an eminently ageable vintage."
Nose
Pale gold in color. Honey, white peach, and pomelo lead, joined by Viognier-derived florals, gingery spice, and acacia, with crushed stone and pineapple.
Palate
Medium-bodied, plump, and silky, with absolute purity of flavor, dried fruit, and lemon rind, balanced by firm phenolics that give real texture.
Finish
Long and refreshing, closing with lingering minerality and aromatic complexity — genuinely age-worthy, per the winery's own team.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Rutherford, Napa Valley, California |
| Variety | 43% Viognier · 30% Roussanne · 27% Marsanne |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Producer | Inglenook |
| Estate Founded | 1887, by Gustave Niebaum — oldest bonded winery in California |
| Farming | Organic since the 1980s, certified 1994 |
| Fermentation | 60% stainless steel drums, 40% oak puncheons |
| Critics | James Suckling 95 · Wine-Searcher aggregated critics 93/100 |
| Style / Identity | A genuine white Rhône-style blend — fresh, textural, and built for real cellaring |
| Aromas & Flavors | Honey, white peach, pomelo, floral notes, gingery spice, crushed stone |
| Drinking Window | Now through 2028 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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