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Rubicon Estate

Rubicon Estate was the wine brand operated by Francis Ford Coppola from his historic Inglenook estate in Rutherford from 1975 until 2011, when he reacquired the Inglenook name and trademark. The Rubicon wine — a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from Coppola's Niebaum estate vineyard — was first produced in 1978 and was intended as a Bordeaux-style Grand Vin expression of the legendary Rutherford terroir originally farmed by Gustave Niebaum in the 19th century. The wine attracted significant critical attention in the 1980s and 1990s, earning strong scores and acting as a symbol of Napa's post-1976 prestige. The Cask Cabernet Sauvignon was the second tier offering. Across 478 auction lots, the estate averages $95 per bottle, with a ceiling of $209. Rubicon vintages from 1997, 2001, and 2002 are considered the finest, earning scores of 93–96 from Robert Parker during the estate's critical high watermark.

The Rubicon wine was first produced in 1978 from the historic Niebaum estate in Rutherford, originally acquired by Finnish sea captain Gustave Niebaum in 1879 and recognised as one of Napa's founding grand estates.
Francis Ford Coppola reacquired the Inglenook trademark in 2011, retiring the Rubicon Estate name; all previous Rubicon-labelled bottles are now collectible as the final era of a transitional brand.
The 2001 and 2002 Rubicon earned 95–96 points from Robert Parker, representing the zenith of the brand's critical recognition.
478 auction lots average $95 per bottle with a ceiling of $209 — modest prices reflecting the brand transition away from Rubicon to Inglenook and the relative accessibility of Coppola's flagship bottlings.

Auction Lots

478

Avg Price / Bottle

$95

Top Vintage

2005

Price Range

$20 – $209

In the Glass

Rubicon is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Rutherford blend with classic Napa Valley architecture: blackcurrant, plum, cedar, tobacco, and dusty Rutherford earth with firm but ripe tannins. The style is restrained by modern Napa standards — less extracted than cult competitors — showing Cabernet Franc and Merlot complexity in the mid-palate. Older vintages from the 1990s and early 2000s have evolved gracefully, developing secondary notes of leather, dried herb, and iron.

Portfolio

WineColourAvg PriceLots SoldTop Vintage
RubiconRed$971032005
Cask Cabernet SauvignonRed$80662002

Rubicon Estate is based in the California wine region.

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