Rubicon Estate (recently renamed Inglenook) once again hosted The Rutherford Dust Society’s 11th annual “A Day in the Dust” on July 13, 2011. The event featured a special 2-hour by invitation only 22 botlle Cabernet tasting in the morning which took place in Rubicon Estate’s historic barrel room. The tasting was followed by a spectacular lunch with Rutherford Dust Socitey growers and winemakers as well as special guest Frances Ford Coppola. After the lunch an afternoon of media & trade tasting of over 39 cabs was opened up.

I was invited to – and attended all- three events. Quite an experience and honor. Imagine tasting over 30 premium distinctive Cabs in 4 hours! Between the morning tasting, the luncheon and the afternoon trade tasting, I think I now have a very good idea of what the Rutherford Cabernet taste profile is all about: Smooth, aromatci, complex and elegant.

I had several favorites – but number four in the second flight stands out. The 2008 Rubicon ($200 – to be released in March 2012) was tasting very very good. When available – it will make a great addition to your cellar. You can read more about it below.

About the Wine
In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola purchased the historic Inglenook property, intent on restoring the estate’s legacy of creating the same world-class wines founder Gustave Niebaum and his grandnephew John Daniel, Jr. produced for decades. Rubicon, the estate’s flagship wine since 1978, is produced from the best fruit of the estate’s vineyards, comprised of the historic Gustave Niebaum Cabernet selection, which was first planted on the property in the 1880s. The 2008 vintage delivered a small crop as a result of a dry winter followed by a spring frost. Summer brought very warm temperatures and weather was moderate in the fall,
allowing for harvesting at the peak of ripeness. The result yielded fruit with profound aromatics and highly concentrated flavor.

Winemaking Notes
2008 marks the first Rubicon vintage that Bordeaux winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt has consulted on. With a focus on creating an elegant style of wine, the fruit was handselected
at harvest, followed by an array of fermentation techniques to bring out the fruit. The wine was then barrel-aged in cool, temperature-controlled caves. Derenoncourt
describes the Rubicon as round and rich in the mouth with creaminess on the palate.

Tasting Notes
Elegantly textured and rich in flavor, 2008 Rubicon delivers pronounced black cherry and cassis impressions with aromas of blueberries, dark chocolate, licorice and spice. A fresh,
ripe fruit entry and full-bodied palate with velvety tannins that linger into the finish.

Owner’s Notes
2008 Rubicon is very well made, and exact. It demonstrates Inglenook’s future direction as more sophisticated, elegant and fresher. More Mineral.