N.V. Inglenook Navalle Ruby Cabernet

Inglenook is a historic and large estate in Rutherford that has undergone a couple of name changes in the course of its long history. From 1975 until 2006 it was officially named Niebaum-Coppola estate to reflect the fact that the estate had been purchased by the film director Francis Coppola. However the estate’s roots go back to 1879 when a German sea captain named Gustave Niebaum bought the property and named it Inglenook. Inglenook wines became a benchmark for the young California wine industry in the early 20th century. In 2011 the Coppolas bought the Inglenook trademark which allowed them to once again call the estate Inglenook. Niebaum-Coppola makes several labels and much of their wine is made from purchased grapes. The flagship wine is Rubicon, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The estate also makes Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a white Rhone-style blend.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.