Inglenook Rubicon - Napa Valley 2014

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 26/09/2018

Dark purplish crimson. Fairly complex nose but not that intense. Richer, sweeter and more ‘Napa’ than the Cabernet Sauvignon with a certain bloodiness and dustiness on the end. The French influence is less marked on this more obviously powerful wine. A little alcohol on the end. Drink 2019-2025

Vinous

95 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 31/03/2018

Inglenook's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is dark and quite potent. Inky blue/purplish fruit, spice, chocolate, menthol, licorice and plum give the wine its deep, unctuous personality. Stylistically, the Rubicon is darker, inkier and more voluptuous than the straight Cabernet. Soft tannins and silky contours add to the wine's considerable appeal.

Wine Enthusiast

94 / 100

le 01/12/2017

Tiny amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot were added to this succulent, elegant wine with cassis, cranberry and black cherry flavors and rounded structure. A light note of cocoa dust and soft texture balance its exotically spiced lushness with delicious integration.

Wine & Spirit

95 / 100

par UK le 18/10/2017

The 2014 Rubicon is part of a trajectory of change at Inglenook, begun when Philippe Bascaules arrived in 2011 as estate director. He has worked with viticulturist Enrique Herrera to moderate sun exposure on the grapes and to prune early, in December, so that the bloom and harvest occur earlier in the season. His goal is to avoid excess heat and to ripen the cabernet during August, as he believes early ripening to be more efficient, allowing him to pick fruit without the cooked flavors that might come with longer hang time. He shortened the growing season by ten days between 2012 and 2013, and an additional three days in 2014, selecting the most perfectly ripe grapes for Rubicon. His 2014 may be the finest release yet under his tenure, a classical Rutherford cabernet with sapid red fruit and the kind of deep, umami-rich tannins that André Tchelistcheff once described as Rutherford dust. Or maybe they’re a little more gravelly than that. Those distinctive tannins allow the wine to feel elegant and clean while still lending it tensile strength.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

le 16/05/2017

Notes of briary plum, blackcurrant, dried herbs, graphite and rich soil introduce an elegant, open-knit and nicely balanced wine with fine tannins, juicy acidity and good length through the finish. This has more depth at the core than the 2013 rendition: a step in the right direction for a terroir which has the potential to produce one of Napa Valley's greatest wines.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

par James Suckling le 27/01/2017

Aromas of blackcurrants, dark chocolate and dried flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, velvety tannins and impressive intensity and richness. Opulent fruit, yet this is still lightly austere and velvety. A beauty every sense of the word. Harmonious, classic wine. Drink in 2019.

Vinous

95 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 31/12/2016

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon exudes density, power and concentration. Black cherry, mocha, licorice, dark spice and menthol infuse a deep, beautifully resonant Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. There is plenty of tannin lurking beneath, but also more than enough richness and overall depth to round things out. Next to the Cabernet Sauvignon, the Rubicon has a bit more sweetness, new oak influence and overall richness. 95+

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/12/2016

The proprietary red, the 2014 Rubicon (96% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) has a saturated black/purple color and a nose of blackberry and cassis with some camphor and charcoal. Chewy, rich and full-bodied, with exceptional precision and personality, this is a stunningly delicious and complex wine with a good 25-30 years of further potential. It is the antithesis of the rustic, somewhat coarse reds that were made under the Rubicon moniker when Francis Ford Coppola first acquired the Inglenook estate. Kudos to him for making dramatic improvements. Approachable already, this wine won’t hit its stride for another decade and will last 30 or more years. 95+

You have to applaud the new bottles and new packaging for the Inglenook wines. This property, purchased by Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor, remains a relatively large estate of over 235 acres primarily dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinous

93-96 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 31/10/2015

Inglenook's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is another wine that shows well today. As is typically the case, the Rubicon is deeper and fleshier than the straight Cabernet, with greater mid-palate richness and rounder contours. Mocha, espresso and dark-fleshed fruits are boldly sketched in this promising Cabernet Sauvignon.