2011 Inglenook Rubicon

93 POINTS

James Suckling

A solid wine for the 2011 vintage with bright and vivid aromas of blackberry, black currant, spice and walnut character. Full body, silky and refined. Shows poise and beauty for the lighter 2011 vintage. Drink or hold.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon impresses for its immediacy. Juicy red berries, mint, flowers and crushed rocks are all vibrant and beautifully delineated. Today, the 2011 is quite fresh and fruit-driven, almost surprisingly so, yet all the elements are in place. Firm, grippy tannins support the finish, but this essentially a forward, open wine to drink over the next decade or so. All things considered, the 2011 Rubicon is impressive.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

Points: (91-93) The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon shows quite a bit of depth and roundness in the year, no doubt owing to the fairly significant presence of Petit Verdot in the final blend. Dark berries, smoke, incense, licorice and tobacco flesh out in this attractive, medium-bodied wine. The 2011 Rubicon clearly has room to grow from here. This is a terrific first effort from winemaker Philippe Bascaules. The 2011 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

Juicy red berries, raspberries, mint, flowers and crushed rocks jump from the glass. The flavors are quite fresh and floral, which is typical of the year. Today the 2011 is primary and fruit-driven, almost surprisingly so, but all the elements are in the the right place. Firm, grippy tannins support the finish, but in essence, this is a fairly forward, juicy style. This is a strong effort for the year, but the vintage personality is a bit covered, at least today, perhaps because of the use of 10% Petit Verdot in the blend.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon shows quite a bit of depth and roundness in the year, no doubt owing to the fairly significant presence of Petit Verdot in the final blend. Dark berries, smoke, incense, licorice and tobacco flesh out in this attractive, medium-bodied wine. The 2011 Rubicon clearly has room to grow from here. This is a terrific first effort from winemaker Philippe Bascaules. The 2011 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. (Not yet released) 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. Tel. (800) RUBICON

Wine Spectator

Strays into some odd barnyard funk and racy, mulched herb flavors at the expense of a purer fruit presence. The texture is grainy, and this ends clipped and dill-accented. Not likely to improve. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 3,500 cases made.

Jancis Robinson MW

Current vintage. Less colour intensity than the 2010, 2012 and 2013. Dark ruby. Refined structure and very pretty tannins. A very appealing wine to this European palate. Very far from a blockbuster even if it probably won’t last all that long.  Score: 17/20