- About This Wine
- Ratings & Reviews
- Tasting Notes
About This Wine
Ratings & Reviews
Tasting Notes
ABOUT THIS WINE
REVIEWS
TASTING NOTES
From the historic Rutherford benchland, the 2019 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon emerges as a profound and evocative testament to Napa Valley grandeur. Crafted entirely from organically-farmed, estate-grown fruit, this wine channels a lineage that stretches back to the legendary 1941 vintage produced by John Daniel Jr.—a benchmark of California winemaking. The 2019 vintage benefits from a perfectly timed sequence of natural rhythms: a wet winter, a cool spring, and an idyllic late-season ripening window that culminated in a harvest executed with precision, allowing each block—drawn from nine distinct vineyard sites—to reach optimal maturity before picking.
In the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a visual stunner, cloaked in an opaque, regal ruby hue that immediately hints at its depth and structure. Aromatically, the wine is expressive yet poised, revealing a compelling bouquet of brambly black cherry, crème de cassis, warm brioche, and the sweet hush of vanilla bean. Upon entry, the palate is enveloped by a rush of ripe red and black fruits that evolve with aeration—graphite, fennel, and a touch of savory dried herbs providing the wine’s mid-palate complexity. The tannins are incredibly fine—polished to a silk-like texture—creating seamless integration with the oak, which offers subtle accents of toast and spice without ever overshadowing the purity of the fruit.
There is a palpable tension here—a balancing act between opulence and restraint, structure and elegance—that is the hallmark of great Rutherford Cabernet. The 96% Cabernet Sauvignon core is subtly lifted by 4% Cabernet Franc, which contributes finesse, aromatic lift, and a refined length to the finish. Nineteen months in 100% French oak, with 50% new barrels, imparts just enough framing to support the fruit without tipping into excess. The wine finishes with haunting persistence—floral, fragrant, and imbued with a sense of Rutherford dust and the timeless grandeur of the Inglenook estate.
This is not merely a bottle of wine; it is a vinous homage to Napa's legacy, from a producer that has long defined elegance in the region. The 2019 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon stands tall among its peers, offering cellar-worthy structure and immediate drinking pleasure for those who revel in the beauty of balance. With its provenance, pedigree, and profound expression of site, this wine is an essential acquisition for collectors and connoisseurs alike.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon & 4% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 14.2%
In the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a visual stunner, cloaked in an opaque, regal ruby hue that immediately hints at its depth and structure. Aromatically, the wine is expressive yet poised, revealing a compelling bouquet of brambly black cherry, crème de cassis, warm brioche, and the sweet hush of vanilla bean. Upon entry, the palate is enveloped by a rush of ripe red and black fruits that evolve with aeration—graphite, fennel, and a touch of savory dried herbs providing the wine’s mid-palate complexity. The tannins are incredibly fine—polished to a silk-like texture—creating seamless integration with the oak, which offers subtle accents of toast and spice without ever overshadowing the purity of the fruit.
There is a palpable tension here—a balancing act between opulence and restraint, structure and elegance—that is the hallmark of great Rutherford Cabernet. The 96% Cabernet Sauvignon core is subtly lifted by 4% Cabernet Franc, which contributes finesse, aromatic lift, and a refined length to the finish. Nineteen months in 100% French oak, with 50% new barrels, imparts just enough framing to support the fruit without tipping into excess. The wine finishes with haunting persistence—floral, fragrant, and imbued with a sense of Rutherford dust and the timeless grandeur of the Inglenook estate.
This is not merely a bottle of wine; it is a vinous homage to Napa's legacy, from a producer that has long defined elegance in the region. The 2019 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon stands tall among its peers, offering cellar-worthy structure and immediate drinking pleasure for those who revel in the beauty of balance. With its provenance, pedigree, and profound expression of site, this wine is an essential acquisition for collectors and connoisseurs alike.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon & 4% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 14.2%
95 POINTS - "This shows notes of ripe blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of licorice, cloves, walnuts and chocolate. It has full body and a velvety tannin structure. Juicy and vibrant fruit on the palate with a touch of earthiness. Smooth and delicious. Long, fruity fi nish. Very pure fruit. Try after 2024." - James Suckling
94 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most potent wines I have tasted from Inglenook in a long time. Readers should be patient, as the 2019 is a mere infant. A rush of black cherry, mocha, licorice, spice and leather builds as this sumptuous, towering wine gradually opens with a bit of aeration. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in bottle, as the grippy tannins need time to soften." - Vinous
94 POINTS - "Nicely weighted on the palate, this is full of dark fruits with menthol edges and lifted acidity. It's a full style, bold and powerful, with a delicious crunchy sweetness to the black cherry and blackcurrant fruit - everything's in place, fresh and lifted. After a few minutes mineral touches come through with fine tannins pushing the flavours to a long finish. Heady and evocative with harmony and refinement. Ageing 19 months in French oak (50% new).” - Decanter
92 POINTS - "Earthy and high-toned, this elegant and structured wine was blended with 4% Cabernet Franc. Supple in tannin and well integrated in oak, it finishes in a floral touch of violet." - Wine Enthusiast
94 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most potent wines I have tasted from Inglenook in a long time. Readers should be patient, as the 2019 is a mere infant. A rush of black cherry, mocha, licorice, spice and leather builds as this sumptuous, towering wine gradually opens with a bit of aeration. I would give the 2019 at least a few years in bottle, as the grippy tannins need time to soften." - Vinous
94 POINTS - "Nicely weighted on the palate, this is full of dark fruits with menthol edges and lifted acidity. It's a full style, bold and powerful, with a delicious crunchy sweetness to the black cherry and blackcurrant fruit - everything's in place, fresh and lifted. After a few minutes mineral touches come through with fine tannins pushing the flavours to a long finish. Heady and evocative with harmony and refinement. Ageing 19 months in French oak (50% new).” - Decanter
92 POINTS - "Earthy and high-toned, this elegant and structured wine was blended with 4% Cabernet Franc. Supple in tannin and well integrated in oak, it finishes in a floral touch of violet." - Wine Enthusiast
Stunningly deep ruby in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with heady aromas of brambly black cherry, vanilla, warm brioche, and crème de cassis. As the wine warms on the palate, notes of red cherry, graphite and fennel emerge, as very polished, refined tannins carry the wine into a long, fragrant finish. Layered flavors, good tension, and a perfect integration of wine and oak interact to create this classic expression of Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon.