About this winery

Founded by a successful Finnish sea Captain, Gustave Niebaum, in the 1880’s, Inglenook Estate in Rutherford California was once the most highly regarded of the earliest, great Napa Valley estate wineries. Over the years the estate passed through the hands of Niebaum’s descendants. Eventually the family started to sell off plots of the historic homestead. Even the proud name was put on the market in 1964 and sold to a corporation as merely a brand name. But in 1975, Francis Ford Coppola...

See the INGLENOOK detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to John Daniel Jr., who produced the much heralded Inglenook 1941 Cabernet Sauvignon from vine cuttings brought from Bordeaux to the Inglenook Estate by founder Gustave Niebaum. Today, this standout wine is still crafted with organically-farmed fruit and estate grown.

Production notes

Well-timed spring rainfall and moderate temperatures throughout the season set the stage for a generous 2018 crop of excellent quality. Blocks contributing to our 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon represent the true diversity of the Inglenook estate. We picked the first Merlot from the Gio vineyard on September 13, and the earliest Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cohn blocks on September 21. Fruit from Lower Cask and Walnut in the Pritchett Hill vineyard, in the heart of the Rutherford Bench arrived next, while Cabernet from the Chateau blocks ripened fully by the first week of October

Tasting notes

A wine of considerable charm, energy and finesse, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is opaque ruby red in color, and opens with aromas of ripe cassis, blackberry, espresso and cedar. Although powerful below the surface, the wine is extremely focused and well-balanced, with silky tannins, ample freshness, and vibrant structure, that lead to a crescendo in the lengthy, polished finish.