Inglenook or Rubicon Estate

Please see our updated review at:  Inglenook Revisited

Rubicon Estate was previously known as Inglenook and Neibaum-Coppola.  (Since this post it has become Inglenook again.)  It is at the end of a long driveway off Highway 29 near Rutherford Cross Road.  Rubicon is in a beautiful old building with a staircase that leads to a museum that includes early lantern movie projectors and a Tucker automobile.  This is a place you will want to see even if you don't taste there.  The tasting was $25 for a flight of five one-ounce pours.

Our tasting began with the Rubicon 2008 Captain's Reserve Chardonnay that had apple on the nose followed by a very smooth citrus and apple on the palate.  It sells for $30.  The Rubicon 2007 Captain's Reserve Pinot Noir at $38 had a raspberry nose with cherry on the palate.  It had light soft tannins with a vanilla finish.  Our favorites, though, were the two cabs.  The Rubicon 2006 Captain's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon had a cherry and blueberry aroma and was very balanced and drinkable.  It is well worth the $48 list price and one that you will surely want to buy.  We were told that their 2006 was an exceptional year.  This is a blend of 87% cab, with 8% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.  The Rubicon 2007 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon at $65 was rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast.  I got some violet on the nose with red cherry and mild tannins on the palate.  It should age nicely.  I'd recommend getting the 2006 to drink now and the 2007 to lay away for a few years, although it is certainly quite drinkable now.  We also had the 2007 Rubicon Cabernet Sauvignon that is 94% Cab, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cab Franc.  It had a spicy nose of cherry and nutmeg with fruit forward cherry on the palate.  It sells for $145.  Out of curiosity we tried a little of their Rubicon 2009 Blancaneux which has some Marsanne in it.  This is a pleasant desert wine and sells for $32. 

While each of these wines was quite good I was most impressed at the 2006 Captain's Reserve Cab and the 2007 CASK Cab, especially given their prices.  The service throughout was friendly, pleasant and unpretentious.  This is a Napa Valley winery you must visit even if you are not into wines.  But if you like cabs you will certainly want to sample some.

Rubicon Vineyard
1991 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 968-1100
Date of visit: 3/29/11