Inglenook 1882 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
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Wong
Wilfred - Decanter
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Where would we be without the pioneering work of Gustave Niebaum? It was his vision that he could produce world class wines in the Napa Valley from Bordeaux grape varieties in 1882—this year marked the first vintage he produced on the estate of what would become the world-renowned Inglenook Vineyards. The 2013 Niebaum Estate 1882 Cabernet Sauvignon, made from estate grown grapes, exemplifies the Rutherford AVA and its best characteristics—bountiful ripe berries, fragrant floral notes, and complex earth and dust nuances. The 2013 vintage is a complete wine that has successfully combined three Bordeaux grape varieties. Drinks quite well now. Many thanks to Captain Niebaum for his insight into the future. The international wine world no longer regards the Napa Valley as a second class citizen. (Tasted: November 22, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Decanter
Solid and weighty with dense cassis and pencil lead flavours evolving into Indian spices and cloves. Immediate appeal with crunchy tannins.
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A decade later, Francis Ford Coppola purchased 1,500 acres of this historic property and revived Captain Niebaum's fine winemaking tradition. In 1995, Niebaum-Coppola acquired the remainder of the property and restored the Inglenook Estate to its original dimensions.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
The Rutherford sub-region of Napa Valley centers on the town of Rutherford and covers some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyard real estate, spanning from the Mayacamas in the west, to the Vaca Mountains on the other side of the valley.
Inside of the Rutherford AVA, bordering the Mayacamas, is a stretch of uplands called the Rutherford Bench. (These bench lands technically run the length of Oakville as well). Mountain runoff creates deep, well-drained, alluvial soils on the bench, giving vine roots plenty of reason to permeate deep into the ground. The result is wine with great structure and complexity.
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvingons and Bordeaux Blends garner substantial attention for their enticing fragrances of dusty earth and dried herbs, broad and juicy mid-palates and lush and fine-grained tannins. The sub-appellation claims some of the valley’s most prized vineyards today, namely Caymus, Rubicon and Beckstoffer Georges III.
It is also home to Napa’s most influential and historic personalities. Thomas Rutherford, responsible for the appellation's name, made serious investments here in grape growing and wine production between the years of 1850 to 1880. Gustave Niebaum purchased a large swath of land and completed his winery in 1887, calling it “Inglenook.” Today this remains the oldest bonded winery in California. Georges Latour founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900, making it the oldest continuous winery in the state. Latour also hired the famous enologist, André Tchelistcheff, a man credited for single-handedly defining the modern Napa winemaking style.