Robert Parker''s Wine Advocate 27/12/2012

A big, imposing wine, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is going to need some time to shed its tannin and baby fat. There is plenty of weight and gravitas in the glass. Smoke, tar, chocolate, licorice and dark red raspberries are all woven into the virile, authoritative finish. In 2009 the blend is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.

Proprietor Francis Ford Coppola continues to move forward with his project to restore Inglenook, one of Napa Valley’s historic estates, to its previous glory. Coppola has certainly been willing to put everything on the line, bringing in viticulturist Stephane Derenoncourt in 2008 and winemaker Philippe Bascaules, from Chateau Margaux, in 2011. Naturally, it is too early to see the results of these two very high-profile hires, but count me among those who are highly interested to see what develops here over the next few years. There are now essentially two Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines. The Cask is made from vineyards on the front portion of the property bordering Highway 29, while Rubicon is made from vineyards located at the back of the estate. Inglenook will no longer bottle other single-variety wines.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 23/12/2011

The 2009 Rubicon, from a cooler vintage, possesses quite a bit more minerality and tannin than the 2008. Although just bottled, the 2009 shows lovely focus and finesse in an elegant, understated style. Dark red fruit, freshly cut flowers, mint and spices are some of the nuances that are layered into the energetic finish. In 2009 the blend is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021.

The newly re-born Inglenook is one of the most fascinating stories unfolding in Napa Valley. Over the years Francis Ford Coppola has pieced together many of the vineyards that were part of the original Inglenook estate, where many benchmark Cabernets were made during the winery’s heyday in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. A few years ago Coppola brought on renowned Bordeaux consultant Stephane Derenoncourt to oversee the vineyards. One of Derenoncourt’s first decisions was to gradually move the vineyards to dry farming. Earlier this year, Philippe Bascaules joined the team from Chateau Margaux, where he was the Estate Manager. While it will take some time for the new team to have a real influence on quality, there is now no reason not to expect these wines to improve significantly. The last piece of the puzzle was Coppola’s purchase of the Inglenook brand itself, which will allow Coppola to return the estate to its original name. Readers interested in finding out more may want to take a look at my video interviews with Coppola and Bascaules on www.erobertparker.com