2018 Inglenook, Rubicon, Napa Valley

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon sports a deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of mocha, tapenade, grilled meats and cedar with a core of creme de cassis, baked plums and blackberry pie plus a waft of garrigue. The full-bodied palate has tons of juicy black fruit layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

Inglenook's 2018 Rubicon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Scents of wood-grilled cherries, graham crackers and mint mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is tannic but ripe, with a certain austerity and reserve. It finishes long, which augurs well for the future, but it just isn't particularly charming right now.