Winemaker Notes
#98 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the USA 2025
The 2023 Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc shows vibrant aromas of honeydew melon, tangerine, green and yellow apple, lime and Asian pear. The texture is creamy and complex, with grapefruit, jasmine and Bartlett pear notes. There is a distinct mineral character, bolstered by citrus zest, sweet peas, mango and yellow elements. It is snappy, vivid, zippy and spirited - very much exemplary of the varietal.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A good vintage for one of Napa’s classic whites. Absolutely taut but flavorful, unfolding layers of new oak, minerals, chalk, citrus and green-apple nuances with each sip. Outstanding and beautiful as a restrained but agile, linear wine.
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Wine Spectator
Aromatic, stylish and energetic, with fresh ginger, jasmine and beeswax notes, plus a lemon tart accent. Hints of Himalayan sea salt, crisp apple and dried apricot are framed on a supple, creamy frame, while a vibrant thread of acidity weaves in and out. Drink now through 2030. 1,008 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Lail's 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Blueprint includes fruit from Yountville and Coombsville. Hints of boxwood, grapefruit and guava mingle easily on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is silky-textured and expansive but balanced by bright, citrusy notes on the finish.
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Vinous
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Blueprint is a gorgeous, layered wine from Robin Lail. It offers a striking mix of vibrancy and textural richness. Lemon confit, sage, mint, white pepper and tomato leaf. This dynamic Sauvignon Blanc has so much to offer.
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.