2002 Rubicon Estate Rubicon
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Tasting notes
Niebaum-Coppola’s rustic styled 2002 Rubicon exhibits notes of damp earth, loamy soil, mushrooms, herbs, pepper and red and black currants. Tasting like a hypothetical blend of a traditional Italian Barolo and a Napa Bordeaux blend, this full-bodied effort possesses power, glycerin and depth, but its tannins remain jagged and unintegrated. The overall impression is of a big, backstrapping red that needs less structure and more charm. It still has plenty of time to sort itself out as it is unlikely to fall apart for at least another decade. Tel. (707) 968-1100
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dark ruby-red. Aroma of roasted plum, chocolate, mocha, fennel and mustard seed.Juicy and intense, with a restrained sweetness to the rather suave flavors of black cherry and black cherry.Finishes with firm, chalky tannins and very good length.This bottle was considerably riper and more concentrated than a sample I rated 87 in Issue 126.
Bright ruby-red. Aromas of redcurrant, mocha and nutty oak. Sweet, round and rather suave, with moderately concentrated flavors of redcurrant, tobacco and nutty oak. Finishes with slightly dusty tannins, good persistence and a faint green edge. (Niebaum-Coppola Winery was recently renamed Rubicon Estate.) Also tasted: 2004 Blancaneaux Napa Valley, 2003 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley*.
About the producer
Inglenook is one of Napa’s oldest wine estates, founded in 1879, but is today owned by Francis Ford Coppola.