![Inglenook "Rubicon" 2016 (Rutherford, Napa Valley, California) - [JS 97] [JD 96] [VM 96] [WA 95] [DM 94] [WE 93] [WS 92]](http://artisan.wine/cdn/shop/files/53449__93943_{width}x.jpg?v=1743873598)
Inglenook "Rubicon" 2016
(Rutherford, Napa Valley, California) - [JS 97] [JD 96] [VM 96] [WA 95] [DM 94] [WE 93] [WS 92]
Regular price $370.00 Sale price $319.97 Save $50.03
About the Wine:
The production of Rubicon, Inglenook’s premier red wine, began in 1978 and restored the estate’s legacy of making world-class wines. Rubicon is an elegant blend from the finest vineyard blocks and showcases 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 alongside much older, revered vintages of Inglenook in collectors’ cellars around the world.
Tasting Notes:
Ideal harvest conditions endowed the 2016 Rubicon with the three elements associated with a truly great wine from the Rutherford appellation: complexity, balance, and elegance. The aromas are intense and focused with top notes of creamy, sweet vanilla, and black licorice wound around a core of exquisitely ripe black cherry and crème de cassis. This refinement extends directly to the palate, where the wine is both broad and deep with sensuous, silky tannins. Supremely balanced in terms of both opulence and complexity, ripe black fruits and an ultra-smooth texture provide an impressive crescendo to a very long finish.
Technical Information
Vintage Notes:
After four years of drought, a winter with average rainfall was welcome, as it provided ample soil moisture for a strong start to the 2016 growing season. Average late-spring temperatures and limited precipitation minimized the risk of frost during mid-May bloom, ensuring average yields. June closed with a heat spell, slowing vine canopy growth at the ideal time. Harvest of the blocks contributing to the 2016 Inglenook Rubicon blend occurred under optimum conditions from September 6th through September 27th.
Appellation: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc
Vineyards: Apple, Cask, Creek, Gio, Lower Cask, Lower Garden, Walnut
Alcohol: 14.1%
Barrel Regime: 18 Months 100% French Oak, 75% New Oak
Bottled: May 2018
Ratings & Reviews
97 Points - James Suckling:"This is a powerful and structured red with full body, focused and polished tannins and a long and flavorful finish. It’s very close to the great 2013. A blend of 93 per cent cabernet sauvignon and seven per cent cabernet franc. Needs three or four years to come around." (15 Oct 2018)
96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The flagship 2016 Rubicon checks in as 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc, and there are close to 4,000 cases produced. This deep purple-hued beauty boasts a stunning nose of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and lead pencil shavings as well as even a hint of iron. These carry to a full-bodied 2016 that has terrific dept of fruit, solid mid-palate concentration, building tannins, and a great finish. This is a classic, age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3 decades." (1/11/2020)
96 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is powerful, dark and unctuous, while retaining a super-classic sense of structure. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, spice and menthol infuse the 2016 with striking textural depth and sweetness." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2020)
95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"Blended of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon gives up bold notions of crushed red and black currants, wild blueberries and blackberry preserves with touches of violets, dark chocolate, cardamom and bay leaves plus a hint of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals great elegance and depth, with a beautiful line of finely grained tannins and amazing freshness, finishing long and layered. 3,847 cases produced." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (29th Oct 2018)
94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"In 2010 there was a change of winemaker at Rubicon, and the new arrival was Philippe Bascaules from Château Margaux. He soon made changes that were, one assumes, aimed at bringing more elegance and less density to the wine. This is certainly apparent here - the nose is ripe and vibrant, with intense mint and blackberry aromas that display purity of fruit and well-judged oak. Suave and polished, it shows finer tannins than the 2006, and enough acidity to give punch and persistence. It has a drier finish than most Napa Cabernets, which often have a sweetness that may be derived from high alcohol. So, there's a welcome austerity here and this will age well." - Stephen Brook (24 Sept 2019)
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This is an intriguingly feral, herbal and classically styled wine, dripping in sage, toasted oak and wrap-around tannin. Cranberry, clove and cassis form a tangle of nuanced, graceful flavor nestled within a core of impressive structure. This is one to put away for awhile; enjoy best 2026—2036." - Virginie Boone (8/1/2019)
92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A savory hint leads the way, followed quickly by ample red currant and blackberry fruit flavors. Tobacco and freshly plowed earth accents score the finish, where the savory element lingers. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2030. 3,847 cases made" - JM (Aug 31 2020)