About the Wine

In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola purchased the historic Inglenook property, intent on restoring the estate’s legacy of creating world-class wines equal to those that founder Gustave Niebaum and his grandnephew John Daniel Jr. made for decades. Rubicon, the estate’s premier wine since 1978, is produced from the best estate grown fruit, including the historic Gustave Niebaum Cabernet Sauvignon selection, which was first planted on the property in the 1880s.

Vintage

Although it was one of the driest growing seasons on record, 2013 was a stellar vintage in large part because the vines were optimized by the ideal conditions of the previous year. Rubicon typically contains small percentages of other Bordeaux varietals, but because the Cabernet Sauvignon was so exceptional this vintage we felt it should stand on its own as a pure varietal. Robert Parker called 2013 "the great vintage in Napa" he's tasted in his long career.

Aging: 18 months, 100% French Oak, 75% new

Tasting Notes

Highly expressive with extraordinary quality and character, the 2013 Rubicon offers upfront aromas of cherries, black currants, and dark chocolate with substantial presence of oak, toast, and floral notes that continue evolving as the wine opens up. A dense, voluminous palate imbued with very fine tannins showcases flavors of dark crushed berries, cassis, and smoky wood. As the flavors gradually broaden, nuances of tobacco leaves and spices emerge. There is a precision and elegance to this vintage, which finishes with freshness due to the balanced natural acidity. Expect beautiful development as this wine matures.

Reviews

An aromatic and complex red with currant, white-chocolate and rose-petal character. Full-bodied, tight and polished. Fine and long. Beautiful now but will improve in time. ~97JS

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