Description
From Napa Valley’s Rutherford appellation, the Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 spends 19 months in oak barrel before bottling. It is deep ruby in colour with aromas of bramble, black cherry, vanilla, warm brioche and crème de cassis. The palate is full of red cherry, graphite and fennel, with refined tannins and a long, fragrant finish. The oak is well integrated into the layers of flavour – this is a classic expression of Inglenook Cabernet.
The Inglenook estate was bought in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, a Swedish ship captain who dreamt of building an American winery to rival the great Chateaux of Europe. The first harvest took place in 1882, producing 80,000 gallons of wine, and the Chateau winery was completed 5 years later. In 1941, Inglenook produces one of “the best red wines ever made”, a wine which went on to sell for $27,000 at auction in 2004. But the prohibition era and the second world war hampered the financials and eventually, then owner, John Daniel Jr. sells off the chateau winery and 100 acres of vineyard to United Vintners. His wife sells the rest of the estate after he dies. And then in 1975, a new era begins – the Coppola era. Francis and Eleanor Coppola buy the mansion and acreage as a ‘vacation cottage’, but soon discover the potential and vow to reunite all the land that was part of the original Inglenook estate. By 1995, they had accomplished this reunion, and by 1997 had restored the old chateau winery. Francis Coppola received the Wine Enthusiast lifetime achievement award in 2019, a recognition of his dedication to winemaking in the US.
Food matches: Pair with simple recipes like grilled steak, roast lamb or juicy ribs.
