2003 Inglenook Rubicon Estate Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Estate

The lean, austere 2003 Cask Cabernet (an homage to John Daniel, Jr. who started the Cask program of Inglenook from this estate in 1949) reveals an impressive deep ruby/purple hue, along with notes of loamy soil (the so-called Rutherford dust?), black cherry liqueur, spice, and oak. In the mouth, it is tightly knit with high tannin as well as a narrow mouthfeel. It should flesh out with time in the bottle. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and keep your fingers crossed. It should turn out to be a very good to excellent Cabernet Sauvignon. Tel. (707) 968-1100.