Inglenook

Rubicon Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

9.3587 ratings
9.1118 pro ratings
Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy, Salami & Prosciutto, Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Herbs, Chicken, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Soft Cheese, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Blue Cheese
Top Notes For
Jay Kline

Flight #1 of our 1997 Retrospective. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. On the nose, this shared similar characteristics to wine #3. The most striking of which was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together, but just. I called this to be “Rubicon”. While clearly in the sunset of its life, this showed slightly less energy than the Dalla Valle but no less charm. Drink now.

Flight #1 of our 1997 Retrospective. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. On the nose, this shared similar characteristics to wine #3. The most striking of which was a powerful note of finely ground cumin on the nose. Fruit is mostly desiccated at this point; the structure keeping everything together, but just. I called this to be “Rubicon”. While clearly in the sunset of its life, this showed slightly less energy than the Dalla Valle but no less charm. Drink now.

Jan 28th, 2024
Ken Z
9.1

Drank 10/24/23.

Nice black and purple fruit on the nose with a bit of earth and funk that mostly blows off after 30 min. Similar palate with dusty tannins. This was better a few years ago, but it is still quite good. Drink now.

4/21/8/4/4 + 50 = 91 pts.

Drank 10/24/23.

Nice black and purple fruit on the nose with a bit of earth and funk that mostly blows off after 30 min. Similar palate with dusty tannins. This was better a few years ago, but it is still quite good. Drink now.

4/21/8/4/4 + 50 = 91 pts.

Oct 24th, 2023
Matt Duncan

Old Napa Cab with suadero tacos? Yes. Oh yes.

Old Napa Cab with suadero tacos? Yes. Oh yes.

Mar 11th, 2021
Jeff D.

Awesome, very little color development and fruit and acidity still intact. Reminded me of a good Margaux...

Awesome, very little color development and fruit and acidity still intact. Reminded me of a good Margaux...

Nov 27th, 2020
John Needham CSW

Really young, it needs way more time in the bottle. It has really great bones, it just needs some time to soften up the tannins, great fruit.

Really young, it needs way more time in the bottle. It has really great bones, it just needs some time to soften up the tannins, great fruit.

Nov 3rd, 2020
Conrad Green

Les Deux Triomphes. Lovely lean fruit. Really focussed and pretty with violets and gnarly savory stuff. Excellent

Les Deux Triomphes. Lovely lean fruit. Really focussed and pretty with violets and gnarly savory stuff. Excellent

Oct 3rd, 2019
Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.0

Napaulée at Press Restaurant. Very nice

Napaulée at Press Restaurant. Very nice

Oct 27th, 2018
Santosh Varghese

Birth year stunner. An amazing example of Classic Cali Cabernet: moss, eucalyptus, mint, dried blueberry.

Birth year stunner. An amazing example of Classic Cali Cabernet: moss, eucalyptus, mint, dried blueberry.

3 people found it helpfulApr 5th, 2015
Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.2

Well made wine.

Well made wine.

1 person found it helpfulJun 10th, 2016
Raini Keyser, CSW

2003 is stunning.

2003 is stunning.

1 person found it helpfulJul 22nd, 2015