“Sometimes the best things in life are unexpected.” - Faith Sullivan

Like Lillie’s Blend, half & half Viognier-Marsanne, with a splash of Roussanne.

From Guenoc Valley?!

If you don’t look closely, you may miss that these grapes are grown in a fertile high valley sandwiched between Mount Saint Helena and Howell Mountain, where Lake meets Napa.

What’s in the glass is more like Condrieu meets Hermitage. No joke, this gorgeousness UNDER $20 can easily put many of the best whites of the Northern Rhône to shame. It’s that intense and balanced.

So, who’s Lillie and why is her blend so mouthwateringly delicious we asked.

It’s hard to believe this is our first Langtry, a winery dating back to 1888! Wine Spectator connects the dots: “In the mid-1970s, Magoon and his brother Eaton established Guenoc Estate Vineyards and Winery on a 23,000-acre ranch his family had acquired, land once owned by the famous Victorian-era actress Lillie Langtry, straddling Lake and Napa counties.”

We then find out - as told here - that Lillie is much, much more famous than her blend! Fast forward to 2012, to when Foley acquires a share of this legacy that expands well into Napa Valley, to complement his rapidly growing portfolio making Langtry a sister winery to the likes of Lancaster Estate, Merus, Banshee, Chalone, and on, and on…

Another lady’s magic touch befittingly put this white together, winemaker Melissa Hackett a name we recognize from her time at Martin Ray - after an illustrious early career spanning from Williams Selyem to Gundlach Bundschu. That deft feminine touch is evident from the perfume to the finish, this is NOT your average white blend, bone dry, yet so alluringly voluptious, juicy, and fruity, all at the same time.

Rich on one hand, electrified and zippy on the other. Impeccably balanced throughout. Yes, it does have a killer score as well. Points, schmoints, you just can’t rate liquid blossoms, dried acacia honey, and an avalanche of pome and stone fruits causing rapid salivation with an unstoppable desire to finish the bottle. Yep, that happened after our panel. Sellout, too, is inevitable.

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“Very buttery and rich, this full-bodied, unoaked mix of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne offers ripe pear, spiced apple and vanilla flavors on a smooth texture. It is very concentrated on the palate and long on the finish.”