Inglenook Rubicon 2021

Intense, powerful and concentrated, full of dark brambled fruits, with cocoa bean, smoked almonds, espresso, a series of tiny pulses of crushed rock minerality. Captures the power of Rutherford without sacrificing finesse or pleasure, just a gorgeous wine that is so easy to fall in love with. The muscular tannins need a few year before fully opening, and could be held back in bottle for a decade or more, or ensure a good long carafe. Todd Devincenzi director, Philippe Bascaules winemaker.

• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

The 2021 vintage of Ingelnook's icon red Rubicon blends Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Cabernet Franc (9%), and Merlot (4%) primarily from their Rutherford Bench estate parcels and is aged in 100% new French oak. The nose on this flagship wine is decidedly dark and expressive, with ripe, pure black fruit and liquorice aromas. Full-bodied with juicy black cherry, plum, and pomegranate fruit flavours on the palate framed by super fine, velvety, and integrated tannins with a very long, refreshing finish—including notes of blood orange and excellent mineral tension—that goes and goes and goes.

• Reviewer Name: Jonathan Cristaldi

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Rubicon charges out with powerful scents of cassis, ripe plums, and blackberry preserves followed by hints of cedar chest, violets, cardamom, and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate has impressive poise and finesse, with vibrant black fruit and earthy layers and beautifully ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and savory. This is impressive!

• Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

A smaller production release that's a selection of the best in vintage, the 2021 Rubicon checks in as 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot that was raised in French oak. It's another incredibly refined release from this team offering lots of cassis, darker currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and cocoa powder-driven aromas and flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, has building tannins, a seamless, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a great finish.

• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is sleek and polished to the core. Silky tannins wrap around a heart of dark-fleshed fruit, mocha, spice and worn-in leather. Deep and quite structured, with impeccable balance, the 2021 is impressive for a young wine off this estate.

• Reviewer Name: Antonio Galloni