Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc 2018
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Winemaker Notes
Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc 2018 has intense aromas of mango, nectarine, honeysuckle, pineapple and lime zest. Adding further intrigue and complexity are flavors of yellow peach, vanilla, honeydew melon and Bosc pear. Exhibiting classic varietal energy and nerve, this is a beautiful and vibrant vintage for this distinctive wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Philippe Melka makes this perennial stunner for Robin Daniel Lail, the U.S. representative to the Porto Protocol for climate action. It opens in a white flower aroma, with a palate reminiscent of lemon peel and wet stone. Balanced in weight, it is graceful, complex and lengthy in sumptuous flavors of pear and peach. The grapes were sourced from vineyards in Yountville and Coombsville.
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James Suckling
A tangy, fruity white with dried-peach, apricot, melon and candied-apple character. Some honeysuckle and bread dough. Medium to full body and creamy texture. Fruity and delicious. Drink now.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
A perennial favorite here at CGCW, the Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc wins enthusiastic endorsement yet again. Introduced by deep, discreetly oaked, very nicely composed aromas of white melons, limes, fresh grass and flowers and following suit with lovely, layered flavors of the same, it is a wine that impresses right now for its polish, precision and fruity vibrancy, but it is also one that is impeccably balanced and will age famously for a good half-dozen years providing that one can resist its already considerable appeals.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, from vineyards in Yountville and Commbsville, was barrel fermented in 30% new French oak and aged in stainless steel. It opens with beautiful peach blossoms, fresh green apples and lemonade notes with touches of lime leaves, coriander seed and paraffin wax. Medium-bodied, refreshing, elegant and with impressive intensity, the palate delivers impactful citrus and savory layers with a zesty kick to the finish. 1,342 cases produced.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of three different vineyards and all Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Blueprint was fermented in 50% new French oak for 4 months then moved to tank. It offers a pure, classic style in its ripe citrus, grapefruit, and minty aromas and flavors. It's clean, beautifully balanced, and classy Sauvignon Blanc well worth seeking out.
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Wine Spectator
Subtle and elegant, starting off with a supple frame that gives way to pear, Meyer lemon, lemon verbena and candied ginger flavors, finishing with a fresh thread of acidity. Drink now.
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Robin Daniel Lail’s heritage began in 1879 with the founding of Inglenook Vineyards by her great -granduncle, the iconic Captain Gustave Niebaum. By the early 1890s, this brilliant man’s obsession for achieving the pinnacle of excellence earned Inglenook wines the status of being considered by many as the finest produced in the country.
The determination to achieve excellence was carried forward through the decades following Niebaum’s death in 1908, with a crescendo in the thirty years following the repeal of Prohibition under the meticulous, passionate stewardship of John Daniel, Jr., Robin’s father. The collection of Cabernets coming from his years of ownership is still celebrated today as some of the finest red wines on earth.
Although Inglenook was sold in 1964, the passion for winemaking did not fade. Robin inherited her father’s respect for tradition. After working as the personal assistant to her mentor, Robert Mondavi, for five years, she left in 1982 to co-found Dominus Estate with Christian Moueix. The following year she co-founded Merryvale Vineyards with Bill Harlan, serving as president for a decade, before finally launching on her eponymous venture, Lail Vineyards, with her two daughters in 1995. Today her family honors his legacy with their relentless pursuit to produce wines second to none.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.