Winemaker Notes
This wine is vibrant with aromas of stone fruit including apricot and white peach. Hints of lemon curd, brioche, caramel and guava add complexity and layers to the nose
Flavor: Evocative and opulent - full bodied white wine. The front palate shows loads of stone Blend: 64% Sauvignon Gris, 36% Sauvignon Blanc
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Established in 1981 and now owned by the Terlato family, Chimney Rock is centred on an estate in the Stags Leap District. Elizabeth Vianna is the winemaker and general manager. The 2024 Elevage Blanc combines 64% Sauvignon Gris with 36% Sauvignon Blanc. It was barrel-fermented and aged for six months, divided equally among new French oak, used French oak and stainless steel. Jonathan Cristaldi: Quite citrussy and zesty with a hint of slivered almond and baking spice throughout. Wonderfully luscious mid-palate, orchard fruits and racy acid tension. Nice balance with a softer, exotic-fruit finish. Jenica Flippo: Highly aromatic with bright citrus and fresh herbs. Vibrant and refreshing, elegantly oaked. Marcona almond, subtle baking spices and citrus on a layered, balanced finish. Cara Patricia: Light nutmeg and vanilla balanced with Buddha’s hand citron and lily notes. Showy, warming fruit, soft texture with a crisp backbone. The barrel influence here acts only as a seasoning.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 64% Sauvignon Gris and 36% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2024 White Blend Elevage Blanc was barrel fermented and aged for six months in one-third new French oak, one-third used French oak, and one-third stainless steel barrels. Beautiful poached pear, white flowers, savory herbs, and some minerality emerge from the glass. It's medium-bodied, clean, pure, and mineral laced on the palate, with a great finish. I love it today, yet it should keep through 2034. Drink 2025-2034.
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James Suckling
This elegant, filigreed and layered white is full-bodied yet graceful and fresh. Subtle citrus, herb and mineral aromas lead to a silky mouthfeel, showing generous lemon, grapefruit, chalk and wet-stone flavors on a good foundation of vivid acidity. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Spectator
An engaging style, with a hint of macadamia nut leading the way for lemon curd, elderflower and yellow apple notes. The brioche-kissed finish gives this a caressing feel overall. Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
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.