“The Inglenook legacy began in 1879 when Gustave Niebaum, a Finnish sea captain, wine connoisseur and entrepreneur, came to Rutherford to build a wine estate that would rival Europe’s finest. When Niebaum’s grandnephew, John Daniel, Jr. inherited the chateau and vineyards in the 1930s, Inglenook had already earned international acclaim. Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased the property in 1975 and have spent forty years reuniting the original vineyards, returning winemaking operations to the chateau, and restoring Inglenook’s illustrious heritage with the help of renowned wine consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt and Managing Director and Winemaker Philippe Bascaules. In honor of this estate and its historical significance, we have restored the name, Inglenook.”
Blancaneaux
Created in 1999 as a partner to Rubicon, Inglenook’s premier red wine, Blancaneaux is a white Rhone-style blend of estate-grown Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Taking the complex personalities of each varietal and artfully blending them together results in Blancaneaux. The Marsanne and Roussanne contribute body and minerality, while the Viognier brings an intense bouquet of tropical fruits. These varietals are grown in vineyard blocks that have ample early morning sun, but are in full-shade by mid-afternoon, because of the shadows cast upon them by Mt. St. John.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Our 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a voluminous wine with upfront sweetness and fine, powdery tannins that develop intensity. Highly aromatic and immediately expressive, the palate reflects the nose with fragrant nuances of red and black fruits that include raspberries, cherries, blueberries, plums and blackberries, all enlivened by exotic spices, notes of tobacco, and a touch of dark chocolate. This is a big wine, one that demonstrates great texture, a freshness brought about by balanced natural acidity, and a long, rapturous finish. It will continue to evolve over the next 10-20 years.
1882 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1882 was the first vintage produced by Inglenook founder Gustave Niebaum. That same year, Niebaum dug a small cave into the Mayacamas foothills on the back property of the estate in his quest for optimal barrel aging conditions. This wine pays tribute to Captain Niebaum, whose spirit of innovation and exploration continues to live on at Inglenook.
Pennino Zinfandel
Edizione Pennino Zinfandel honors Francis Ford Coppola’s maternal grandfather, Francesco Pennino, a music composer and native of Naples, Italy. Two historic Zinfandel clones, Morisoli and Werle, complement each other in the creation of this unique wine, with Morisoli lending structure, sweet fruit, and spice in harmony with Werle’s inherent richness and dark fruit tones.
RUBICON
In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola purchased the historic Inglenook property, intent on restoring the estate’s legacy of creating world-class wines equal to those that founder Gustave Niebaum and his grandnephew John Daniel Jr. made for decades. Rubicon, the estate’s premier wine since 1978, is produced from the best estate grown fruit, including the historic Gustave Niebaum Cabernet Sauvignon selection, which was first planted on the property in the 1880s.