2008 Single Lot Cabernet "Twenty-two" |
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Price: $65.00
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History of Rubicon Estate Cabernet
The techniques used to craft Cabernet Sauvignon at Rubicon Estate have evolved greatly since the time when Gustave Niebaum founded the estate in the 1880's. When he established Inglenook, the original winery on this property, he had already determined, based on the tasting of the first Napa Valley wines, that the prime Rutherford land he'd purchased would be an excellent site for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. However, since Niebaum wanted to create wines that rivaled the finest in the world, he made frequent trips to Europe to see how the prestigious French chateaux were planting vines and crafting Bordeaux. But he still saw room for improvement and decided to experiment on his own both in the vineyards and the cellar.
Niebaum imported vine cuttings from France, but created his own style of vineyard spacing and insisted on having impeccably clean equipment, which wasn't then considered terribly important to the art of winemaking. Some of the vines grown on the estate today are descended from those original vines and share the same genetic material. Niebaum accomplished a great deal; his grandnephew, John Daniel, Jr., who inherited the winery, accomplished even more, including the production of several Cabernet Sauvignons that have made the Top 100 of-all-time list.
Cabernet Today
Today, there are 235 planted-vineyard acres at Rubicon Estate with nearly 130 acres dedicated to growing ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition to crafting Rubicon, which is our flagship Cabernet blend, and CASK Cabernet, which is a tribute the old Niebaum technique of large cask aging, we were inspired to give our members a behind-the-scenes look into some of the most outstanding grapes by producing four single lot Cabernets from the 2008 vintage. Each lot is extremely limited and was selected for its distinct attributes. It should be noted, however, that the number designation on the label does not represent the actual lot number. There's a far more personal explanation behind the name; each number represents the birth date of a Coppola family member. Names and numbers aside, these wines represent the exclusivity of our Rubicon Estate membership.
2008 'Twenty-Two'
Grown on the benchlands east of the Chateau, Lots North and South, I and II was harvested from the beautiful gravelly loam soils that wind through the Chateau Vineyard's 48 acres of Cabernet. In accordance with the soil composition and depth, each row is harvested a minimum of three times, leaving the grapes from the most fertile sections to stay on the vines as long as possible. Red cherry is the predominant characteristic found in wines grown on these soils plus a weighty and opulent texture. Rutherford history is located on all sides of these blocks.
Appellation: Rubicon Estate, Rutherford, CA
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.8%
Barrel Regimen: 26 months in new and used French oak |