Inglenook Rubicon, Rutherford, Napa Valley

Description

Inglenook Rubicon is the flagship red wine of the Inglenook Winery. The vineyard is located in the Rutherford AVA is an American Viticultural Area which is located within the large Napa Valley AVA. Rutherford is famous for the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon grown there and the Rubicon is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Cabernet Franc.

The origins of the Inglenook estate can be traced back to 1879 when it was founded by a Finnish sea captain named Gustave Niebaum. The estate was eventually purchased by John Daniel in 1940. However, the modern part of the estate’s history begins in 1975 when famous Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola purchased part of the historic Inglenook property and three years later made his first vintage of Rubicon, a proprietary blend of classic Bordeaux varietals. Twenty years later in 1995 he was able to restore the Estate to its original splendour with the purchase of the grand Chateau and remaining vineyards. After restoring the Chateau, including returning winemaking to its original location on the second floor, purchasing the adjacent J.J. Cohn property and building a massive cave in the hillside behind the Chateau, Coppola changed the property’s name to Rubicon Estate, echoing the name of its flagship wine. The Inglenook brand name, which was owned by another company, was finally acquired by Coppola and in 2011 he announced that the estate would be known by its historic name.

Inglenook Rubicon 2016 is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are sourced from the Apple, Cask, Creek, Gio, Lower Cask, Lower Garden and Walnut Vineyards. The cornerstone of Rubicon is the Garden Vineyard which is the oldest block of Cabernet on the Estate. It is planted to the original selection of Cabernet that founder Gustave Niebaum brought to the property in the early 1880s. This Cabernet has been selected and certified by the University of California at Davis as a heritage clone of historical significance. It was awarded a coveted clonal selection number by the University, the Niebaum Clone of Cabernet Sauvignon #29. This unique clone of Cabernet is essential for the creation of Rubicon.

Rubicon is aged for 18 months in 100% French Oak barrels, 75% of which are new. 2016 vintage bottled in May 2018.

Consulting oenologist is Stephane Derenencourt and Director of Winemaking is Philippe Bascaules of Chateau Mârgaux.