Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Inglenook — Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Crafted from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, and 0.5% Petit Verdot, this estate-grown Cabernet showcases the remarkable 2018 Napa Valley vintage. Although positioned below the iconic Rubicon, it delivers the pedigree, precision, and elegance that have defined Inglenook for generations.

Aromas & Flavors
Layers of cassis, blackberry, black cherry, espresso, cedar, and graphite unfold alongside subtle bay leaf, dried herbs, and baking spices. The fruit is generous without excess, allowing Rutherford’s signature savory character to shine.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and exceptional balance. Deep and structured yet remarkably approachable, the wine carries impressive concentration while maintaining finesse through a long, refined finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, dry-aged steak, lamb chops, braised short ribs, wild mushroom dishes, or aged Cheddar and Gouda.

Verdict
An outstanding expression of Rutherford Cabernet that consistently overdelivers. Powerful without being overwhelming, refined without sacrificing depth, it captures the classic Napa profile with remarkable harmony and age-worthy structure.

Did You Know?
Founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, Inglenook is one of Napa Valley’s most historic estates. Under the stewardship of Francis Ford Coppola and renowned winemaker Philippe Bascaules (formerly of Château Margaux), the estate has been meticulously restored to its original vision of producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

🍷 Personal Pick
The 2018 and 2019 vintages remain among my favorite recent years from Napa. This bottle is proof that you don’t need to step up to Rubicon to experience the soul of Inglenook. It delivers everything I look for in a classic Napa Cabernet—depth, structure, refined herbaceous character, and effortless balance. A cerebral wine that reminds me why Rutherford continues to be one of the world’s great homes for Cabernet Sauvignon. — a day ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Cherry cola, black tea, aged toasted oak, excellent acidity and balance, long, lingering finish, very fine aged Oregon Pinot to go with grilled Copper River (Alaskan) wild salmon!! — a month ago

with Jim

Tom Garland

9.3

+1 hour decant(lots of chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: subtle notes of dark fruit, sandalwood, potting soil, milk chocolate, floral. Taste: velvety, layered, concentrated mouthcoating wine with blackberry/blueberry, loamy soil, graphite, smoke, pepper, and a minerally dark chocolate dry long finish. YUM! better than 5 years ago...it's Come Together as the Beatles would say. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

mike cust

8.9

Good but nothing great only buy the small bottles for mid week wines — 2 months ago

Inseon Hwang

9.2

Black cherries and blackberries, balanced tannins and structure, minerals, slight graphite. — 3 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1.5 hour decant(some chunky sediment). A remarkable inky purplish garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: exquisite notes of ripe dark berries, cassis, smoked meat, floral, black olives, mint. Taste: velvety, elegant, structured mouthcoating wine with blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, crushed stone, and a spiced-mineral-dark chocolate espresso long finish. YUM!! — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Kapyrick Wine

9.1

v17. Very good! Dusty pepper and tobacco nose. Fresh, rich black currant and soft plum fruit. Smooth, long, dry slightly chewy mocha and leather finish. Nicely made. — 19 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The 2024 “White Hill” pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of star fruit, passion fruit, stone fruits, lemons, a touch of freshly struck matchstick, some white flowers and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and slightly saline. I love the character of these wines. Really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2034+. — a month ago

Ed Chin

9.3

Big polished and showing a hint of heat. Happily the oak isn’t too pronounced. For me this baby needs time. — a month ago

William Brouwer

9.0

Enjoying this oaky, chocolate, great tannins with my brothers in Visalia. — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Decant and pour. An amazing still dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: subtle notes of dark fruit, worn leather, herbaceous, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: savory, silky, elegant wine with some dried cherry/red plum, currants, tobacco, spice, earth, coffee grounds and a medium plus finish. YUM!!! Drinking beautifully for its age on this rain for an hour cool afternoon in Napa. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.3

hour decant(decent sediment).  A still dark garnet with bricking.   On the nose:  subtle notes of dark fruit, licorice, tobacco, forest floor, herbaceous, olive brine, mocha java.  Taste:  silky, layered, creamy wine with blackberry/dark plum, tobacco, baking spice, mocha java, earth, minerals, dried herbs and a long dry finish.  YUM!! — 2 months ago

Lauren Young

9.3

Needs decanting, — 2 months ago

Ali

9.0

Pineapple finish — 3 days ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.7

Holy smokes. Currant and dark cherry, and medium red nose, that leads into a perfectly tannic finish. — 21 days ago

Bob Boyle

9.2

Drinking wonderfully! — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened with the assistance of a Durand and decanted about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 Rubicon pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a combination of dried, ripe and tart, red and black fruits: mixed brambles, red and black currants, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, old leather, dried flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, minerals and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ and sanguine. A rather remarkable ‘81 that seems almost evergreen when considering the color and condition of the fruit. In fact, it seemed to gain energy with air. Impressive. Drink now with a short decant and through 2041. — 2 months ago

Michael Gustafson

9.0

Peppery for me. I liked it. Bunny thought too grainy. Didn’t Ike it. At Atlas ATL — 2 months ago

with Guisela

Joel Lara

9.3

Nicely balanced with fresh acidity and soft tannins that leave a slight dryness on the finish. Notes of cassis, raspberries, blackberries, and bitter chocolate on the palate with underlying hints of cloves, pepper, and black olives. Lovely, persistent finish. Went really well with dry-aged ribeye. — 2 months ago

Ed Chin

9.0

Refreshing and good mouthfeel, it was lacking in depth, length and on the simple side. — 3 months ago