About this winery

Founded by a successful Finnish sea Captain, Gustave Niebaum, in the 1880’s, Inglenook Estate in Rutherford California was once the most highly regarded of the earliest, great Napa Valley estate wineries. Over the years the estate passed through the hands of Niebaum’s descendants. Eventually the family started to sell off plots of the historic homestead. Even the proud name was put on the market in 1964 and sold to a corporation as merely a brand name. But in 1975, Francis Ford Coppola...

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Production notes

Over the last few years, we’ve continued to refine the methods we use in crafting Rubicon, in order to create the most elegant wine possible. We’re more discerning about the selections that go into Rubicon, even though we had less fruit to work with this vintage. We also purchased a new destemmer, which treats the fruit more gently and causes less oxidation. This results in better aromatic expression, allowing the fruit to show off its pure character. Likewise, we’ve improved our fermentation techniques to prevent over-extraction. Now, rather than using pump overs at scheduled intervals, we evaluate each individual block and consider which ones would benefit from development to optimize the proper balance and structure of the wine. This vintage was aged in 80% new oak barrels for 18 months before it was bottled.

Tasting notes

Our most recent tasting of the 2011 Rubicon revealed a complex nose that includes notes of graphite, dark red currants, and a floral potpourri of dried rose petals with hints of allspice. This wine demonstrates a refined richness, yet its intensity does not weigh down the palate. The flavors exude a freshness, complemented by nice acidity. Impressions of juicy dark cherries, tobacco, and currants are most prevalent, while notes of spices, tea leaves, and an intriguing earthy quality create a more rugged wine that is very expressive of its unique terroir. The wine’s essence is further enhanced by fine-grained tannins, which support an elegant structure and refined finish that boasts deep aromatic notes of espresso.