2018 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon Napa Valley Rutherford
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| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2025 - 2040 |
Low Stock
Only 3 left
Description
If Captain Niebaum was partly responsible for introducing Cabernet Sauvignon to Napa Valley, then John Daniel Jr. was responsible for continuing his great-uncle's tradition of excellence and refining the varietal to respected status. In honor of Daniel's Cask Wines program, which he began in 1949, vintages bottled from 1995 through 2008 of the varietal were originally called Cask and bore oak veneer labels. Up until then, the wine had been 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in American oak barrels. The 2009 vintage, however, saw changes in both the name and the production and aging regime, and now Inglenook's Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec—depending on the desired profile—all of which are aged in French oak.
For years Inglenook has been one of the best from Napa Valley and this Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Rutherford the white Blancaneaux and this icon the Rubicon is only distributed via the Place du Bordeaux among the affiliated wine merchants (including of course Grand Cru wines) as is the case for other icons such as Harlan, Insignia and Opus One Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to John Daniel Jr., who produced the much-praised Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon from 1941 from Bordeaux vine cuttings at the Inglenook Estate by founder Gustave Niebaum. Today this striking wine is still made with organically grown fruit that is grown exclusively on the estate.
Production of Rubicon, Inglenook's flagship red wine, began in 1978. An elegant blend of the best vineyard blocks, Rubicon shows the highest potential of both the estate and the vintage. Under the guidance of Philippe Bascaules, Inglenook's Director of Winemaking, Rubicon proudly takes its place in many collections around the world.
Inglenook's 2018 Rubicon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak. Aromas of toasted cherries, graham crackers and mint characterize the nose, while the medium to full palate is tannic but ripe, with a certain austerity and restraint. The long finish shows promise for the future, but at this point the wine is not particularly charming.
FACT: The winemaker of Inglenook is Philippe Bascaules, who is also the managing director of Château Margaux. In the tab: Attachment you will find the official factsheet of this wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine.
Specifications
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | inglenook |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 93 |
| James Suckling rating | 97 |
| Vinous rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 92+
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
Inglenook's 2018 Rubicon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Scents of wood-grilled cherries, graham crackers and mint mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is tannic but ripe, with a certain austerity and reserve. It finishes long, which augurs well for the future, but it just isn't particularly charming right now.
This historic name traces its roots back to 1871, when William C. Watson purchased 78 acres west of Rutherford and named his property Inglenook. Gustave Niebaum acquired the land in 1879, along with the adjacent Rohlwing Farm, and expanded the existing vineyards, with the first recorded Inglenook harvest taking place in 1882.
Niebaum died without issue and willed the property to his great nephew John Daniel Jr., who grew up there and assumed ownership upon his 21st birthday, in the midst of Prohibition. At the time, grapes were being sold to Beaulieu Vineyard for sacramental wine and to home winemakers. With repeal, winemaking restarted, Daniel learning from winemaker Carl Bundschu, who later went on to found his own winery in Sonoma. Although Inglenook had been acclaimed prior to Prohibition, the era from 1939–1964 saw Inglenook's rise to real prominence under Daniel's leadership. But in 1964, Daniel sold Inglenook—the brand, the winery and the front acreage—to United Vintners, ushering in a period of ignominy that only accelerated under the ownership of Heublein, a spirits company that took over United Vintners in 1968.
In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola purchased a portion of the original Inglenook estate as a vacation retreat and, within a few years, Coppola began making wine under the Niebaum-Coppola label, releasing its first Rubicon in 1978 with the help of Andre Tchelistcheff. In 1995, Coppola was able to purchase the original winery and the adjoining vineyards, and he purchased the rights to the Inglenook name in 2011.
On the viticulture and winemaking side, the vineyards have been farmed organically since 1994. Coppola brought in consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt in 2008, who added some biodynamic principles as well. Then Coppola hired Philippe Bascaules (from Château Margaux) as director of winemaking in 2011. Bascaules recently led a tasting in New York City that provided the opportunity to review these wines and get a bit more of the Inglenook story.
"Great wine starts with a vision," said Bascaules, explaining why Coppola was able to attract him to the role. Bascaules also admitted to being enchanted by the 1959 Inglenook. "Before that, I wasn't sure what Napa was capable of," he said.
In explaining where the estate is headed now, Bascules described the 2012 vintage as a watershed moment. "Twelve was a big surprise. It was a nice year, but I didn't want to pick, the grapes weren't ripe—we had to wait," he said. "I agree with the diagnosis, but not with the solution, which was to wait. We need to ripen the grapes quicker/earlier. If you harvest late, the grapes are all the same. It's like overcooking. I cannot say that I don't like it, but it's not interesting."
Today, the program at Inglenook is to prune earlier, advancing ripeness by up to a week. The canopy is kept shorter, to reduce water loss. And irrigation has been cut dramatically, to one-fifth of previous levels. "Now, we irrigate only at the end of the season," said Bascaules. "to avoid shriveling."
The goal, he said, is to have density, concentration and silkiness. "I told the team I want to make the ball bigger, but I want it always to be a ball, said Bascaules. "I consider 2013 my first vintage and a new start for Rubicon," he said. "What we decided is not a big change but a slight reorientation. To make it lower [in] alcohol and easier to drink, with more acidity."
The tasting, held at the Dreyfus Ashby offices in Manhattan, included several white wines from the estate. There's a Sauvignon Blanc, which comes mostly from vines close to Highway 29, and includes nearly one-fourth Sémillon, which Bascaules said contributes acidity to the wine. There's also a white counterpart to Rubicon, called Blancaneaux. Based on roughly equal proportions of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, these grapes come from a portion of the vineyard further back on the bench, well-shaded by the Mayacamas.
Inglenook harvested and made red wines in 2020. And while production of Rubicon and the Cabernet Sauvignon will be smaller, there's no sign of smoke taint, said Bascaules. We'll see.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Inglenook Napa Valley Rutherford Rubicon 2018
Thursday, February 3, 2022
CountryUnited States
RegionCalifornia
Vintage2018
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
97
Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
94
Drinking Window
2024 - 2038
From: The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernets: A Deep Dive (Jan 2022)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is a dark, sumptuous beauty. Silky contours and soft curves wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs. All the elements come together in this racy, opulent Cabernet from Inglenook. I am not sure Rubicon is meaningfully better or more complex than the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018. It is richer and creamier, to be sure, but not necessarily more complex.
- By Antonio Galloni on September 2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Wijnhuis
Inglenook is a famous winery located in California and is known as one of the best wineries in the whole world. The Inglenook winery is 130 years old and has produced only quality wines over the years. To illustrate the high quality of this winery, a nice quote from Gustave Niebaum from 1890 can be used: "I do not intend to make money from my vineyards by producing a lot of cheap wine. I want to make a California wine that is sought after by connoisseurs and can be just as high a price as wines from France, Germany or Spain and I am willing to spend all my money for this result ".
The current production of the domain Inglenook reassembles the production that the wine domain had in its 'Golden era' under the direction of John Daniel. Since Francis Ford Coppola bought the estate, the institution has been the same as it was between 1934 and 1964, pride is above profit and pride is certainly there. The wines made at Inglenook are among the best wines in the world and each year the wines receive high ratings from wine connoisseurs. The organic growing methods used by John Daniel are now being used again, so contraceptives are no longer used to protect the Inglenook vineyards and high quality grapes are being grown again, such as the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Franc.
If Captain Niebaum was partly responsible for introducing Cabernet Sauvignon to Napa Valley, then John Daniel Jr. was responsible for continuing his great-uncle's tradition of excellence and refining the varietal to respected status. In honor of Daniel's Cask Wines program, which he began in 1949, vintages bottled from 1995 through 2008 of the varietal were originally called Cask and bore oak veneer labels. Up until then, the wine had been 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in American oak barrels. The 2009 vintage, however, saw changes in both the name and the production and aging regime, and now Inglenook's Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec—depending on the desired profile—all of which are aged in French oak.
For years Inglenook has been one of the best from Napa Valley and this Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Rutherford the white Blancaneaux and this icon the Rubicon is only distributed via the Place du Bordeaux among the affiliated wine merchants (including of course Grand Cru wines) as is the case for other icons such as Harlan, Insignia and Opus One Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to John Daniel Jr., who produced the much-praised Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon from 1941 from Bordeaux vine cuttings at the Inglenook Estate by founder Gustave Niebaum. Today this striking wine is still made with organically grown fruit that is grown exclusively on the estate.
Production of Rubicon, Inglenook's flagship red wine, began in 1978. An elegant blend of the best vineyard blocks, Rubicon shows the highest potential of both the estate and the vintage. Under the guidance of Philippe Bascaules, Inglenook's Director of Winemaking, Rubicon proudly takes its place in many collections around the world.
Inglenook's 2018 Rubicon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak. Aromas of toasted cherries, graham crackers and mint characterize the nose, while the medium to full palate is tannic but ripe, with a certain austerity and restraint. The long finish shows promise for the future, but at this point the wine is not particularly charming.
FACT: The winemaker of Inglenook is Philippe Bascaules, who is also the managing director of Château Margaux. In the tab: Attachment you will find the official factsheet of this wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine.
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Region | Californie |
| Appellation | Napa Valley |
| Winery | inglenook |
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Drinking as of | 2025 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Parker rating | 93 |
| James Suckling rating | 97 |
| Vinous rating | 94 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Tannines, Vol |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 92+
Reviewed by:
Joe Czerwinski
Release Price:
NA
Drink Date:
2025 - 2040
Inglenook's 2018 Rubicon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Scents of wood-grilled cherries, graham crackers and mint mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is tannic but ripe, with a certain austerity and reserve. It finishes long, which augurs well for the future, but it just isn't particularly charming right now.
This historic name traces its roots back to 1871, when William C. Watson purchased 78 acres west of Rutherford and named his property Inglenook. Gustave Niebaum acquired the land in 1879, along with the adjacent Rohlwing Farm, and expanded the existing vineyards, with the first recorded Inglenook harvest taking place in 1882.
Niebaum died without issue and willed the property to his great nephew John Daniel Jr., who grew up there and assumed ownership upon his 21st birthday, in the midst of Prohibition. At the time, grapes were being sold to Beaulieu Vineyard for sacramental wine and to home winemakers. With repeal, winemaking restarted, Daniel learning from winemaker Carl Bundschu, who later went on to found his own winery in Sonoma. Although Inglenook had been acclaimed prior to Prohibition, the era from 1939–1964 saw Inglenook's rise to real prominence under Daniel's leadership. But in 1964, Daniel sold Inglenook—the brand, the winery and the front acreage—to United Vintners, ushering in a period of ignominy that only accelerated under the ownership of Heublein, a spirits company that took over United Vintners in 1968.
In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola purchased a portion of the original Inglenook estate as a vacation retreat and, within a few years, Coppola began making wine under the Niebaum-Coppola label, releasing its first Rubicon in 1978 with the help of Andre Tchelistcheff. In 1995, Coppola was able to purchase the original winery and the adjoining vineyards, and he purchased the rights to the Inglenook name in 2011.
On the viticulture and winemaking side, the vineyards have been farmed organically since 1994. Coppola brought in consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt in 2008, who added some biodynamic principles as well. Then Coppola hired Philippe Bascaules (from Château Margaux) as director of winemaking in 2011. Bascaules recently led a tasting in New York City that provided the opportunity to review these wines and get a bit more of the Inglenook story.
"Great wine starts with a vision," said Bascaules, explaining why Coppola was able to attract him to the role. Bascaules also admitted to being enchanted by the 1959 Inglenook. "Before that, I wasn't sure what Napa was capable of," he said.
In explaining where the estate is headed now, Bascules described the 2012 vintage as a watershed moment. "Twelve was a big surprise. It was a nice year, but I didn't want to pick, the grapes weren't ripe—we had to wait," he said. "I agree with the diagnosis, but not with the solution, which was to wait. We need to ripen the grapes quicker/earlier. If you harvest late, the grapes are all the same. It's like overcooking. I cannot say that I don't like it, but it's not interesting."
Today, the program at Inglenook is to prune earlier, advancing ripeness by up to a week. The canopy is kept shorter, to reduce water loss. And irrigation has been cut dramatically, to one-fifth of previous levels. "Now, we irrigate only at the end of the season," said Bascaules. "to avoid shriveling."
The goal, he said, is to have density, concentration and silkiness. "I told the team I want to make the ball bigger, but I want it always to be a ball, said Bascaules. "I consider 2013 my first vintage and a new start for Rubicon," he said. "What we decided is not a big change but a slight reorientation. To make it lower [in] alcohol and easier to drink, with more acidity."
The tasting, held at the Dreyfus Ashby offices in Manhattan, included several white wines from the estate. There's a Sauvignon Blanc, which comes mostly from vines close to Highway 29, and includes nearly one-fourth Sémillon, which Bascaules said contributes acidity to the wine. There's also a white counterpart to Rubicon, called Blancaneaux. Based on roughly equal proportions of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, these grapes come from a portion of the vineyard further back on the bench, well-shaded by the Mayacamas.
Inglenook harvested and made red wines in 2020. And while production of Rubicon and the Cabernet Sauvignon will be smaller, there's no sign of smoke taint, said Bascaules. We'll see.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Inglenook Napa Valley Rutherford Rubicon 2018
Thursday, February 3, 2022
CountryUnited States
RegionCalifornia
Vintage2018
CHECK PRICE
DOWNLOAD SHELFTALKER
Score
97
Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
94
Drinking Window
2024 - 2038
From: The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernets: A Deep Dive (Jan 2022)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is a dark, sumptuous beauty. Silky contours and soft curves wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and dried herbs. All the elements come together in this racy, opulent Cabernet from Inglenook. I am not sure Rubicon is meaningfully better or more complex than the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018. It is richer and creamier, to be sure, but not necessarily more complex.
- By Antonio Galloni on September 2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Inglenook is a famous winery located in California and is known as one of the best wineries in the whole world. The Inglenook winery is 130 years old and has produced only quality wines over the years. To illustrate the high quality of this winery, a nice quote from Gustave Niebaum from 1890 can be used: "I do not intend to make money from my vineyards by producing a lot of cheap wine. I want to make a California wine that is sought after by connoisseurs and can be just as high a price as wines from France, Germany or Spain and I am willing to spend all my money for this result ".
The current production of the domain Inglenook reassembles the production that the wine domain had in its 'Golden era' under the direction of John Daniel. Since Francis Ford Coppola bought the estate, the institution has been the same as it was between 1934 and 1964, pride is above profit and pride is certainly there. The wines made at Inglenook are among the best wines in the world and each year the wines receive high ratings from wine connoisseurs. The organic growing methods used by John Daniel are now being used again, so contraceptives are no longer used to protect the Inglenook vineyards and high quality grapes are being grown again, such as the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Franc.