Inglenook - Rubicon 2019

DECANTER: "Supple, generous and supremely well textured with chalky but fine tannins supporting the rich blackcurrant and cherry fruit. I love the cool blue fruit sensation also, this feels well worked and differently stylistically than many other Napa wines. A sense of refinement here, delicate yet still vibrant and confident. A clear difference between this and the normal bottling. Chewy and ripe with floral fragrance, some milk chocolate elements, caramel, coffee, sweet strawberries, herbal raspberries, liquorice and tobacco - such a lot going on here, but you can feel all the nuance and detail. An excellent wine worth seeking out. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 20 months in French oak (74%) new."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of ripe berries, sweet vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and bread crust. Notes of dried herbs and pinewood, too. So well grounded. Smooth, with a lingering, silky mouth-feel. Full body and ripe, chewy tannins. Toned and muscular with hints of crushed rocks. Firm, linear finish. Try after 2025."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With a grip of currant, dried herb, sage and cedar, this youthful wine is structured, elegant and tremendously ageworthy. Bright throughout in vibrant acidity, it is sophisticated in style, with an earthiness that endures, showcasing the incredible potential that continues to be realized from the organically farmed estate. Enjoy best from 2029–2034. This blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose pops with vivacious notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie and redcurrant jelly, plus hints of crushed rocks, bay leaves and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a solid, firm and grainy texture with a lively backbone cutting through dense earth-laced layers, finishing long and minerally. Impressive!"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The flagship 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is slightly deeper purple-hued and checks in as a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It's a clear step up, offering a terrific nose of ripe cassis and spiced currant fruits as well as cedary herbs, tobacco, and earth. Nicely concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and balanced, it has plenty of up-front charm (as do most 2019s) yet will have two decades of longevity. It needs plenty of air to show at its best today, so don't be afraid to put this in a decanter."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Ripe and focused, this takes an understated approach with a core of juicy dark plum and red currant preserves, lacing them liberally with dusty earth, singed alder and sweet tobacco. Delivers nice drive through the finish, which stays firmly grounded in its terroir. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2035."