While this was still a nice wine, I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as I was hoping to. Perhaps the wine was starting to show signs of being cooked. I ordered 3 bottles of this on September 1st, figuring that it would be shipped once the weather got cooler. I was shocked when I got an email a few days later that the wine was on its way, since the eastern part of the country was in the midst of a heat wave, but thought that maybe it would be OK since the email stated that “given high temperatures in many parts of the country, most wine will be shipped in styrofoam shippers with cold packs to ensure your wine arrives in peak condition“. My wine arrived in a cardboard box with cardboard inserts, with no cold pack, and felt very warm to the touch, not surprising since it was 97 degrees out when it arrived. When I wrote to Rubicon complaining about them sending the wine in a heat wave and not having shipped it properly, I got back a reply that they were not responsible for weather related problems during shipping, which I thought was irresponsible on their part given when they had chosen to ship it. So rather than letting it sit and age, I drank up all 3 bottles I had ordered within a few days. It was OK, but not great.
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Aiolos En Primeur Tasting (Aiolos HQ): 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 14% Beautiful in the nose, density, fruit core, black fruit, spicy, fine oak frame, floral notes. Palate showing more strength, loads of coffee notes, hot, the fruit lies in the back, tight tannins, med body, med to long finish, very tight, needs time.
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Rated 97 by Wine Enthusiast. Comments from the Vintner:
Visually striking, with its violet-edged, opaque ruby-red color, the 2019 Rubicon opens gradually, revealing notes of blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Upon more aeration, notes of espresso, clove and cassis bud emerge. On the palate, silky and fine-textured tannins are wrapped around a firm structural core that anchors the wine. Subtle hints of tobacco, black licorice and anise during the extended, seamless finish. The overall vibrant energy and refinement of this elegant wine mark it as quintessentially Rubicon.
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3/30/2024 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 96 Points
Black fruit, cedar, cedar, cassis, chocolate,herbal notes, acidity, hints of currants and leather, smokey oak.
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9/9/2023 - sonodoc wrote: 90 Points
While this was still a nice wine, I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as I was hoping to. Perhaps the wine was starting to show signs of being cooked. I ordered 3 bottles of this on September 1st, figuring that it would be shipped once the weather got cooler. I was shocked when I got an email a few days later that the wine was on its way, since the eastern part of the country was in the midst of a heat wave, but thought that maybe it would be OK since the email stated that “given high temperatures in many parts of the country, most wine will be shipped in styrofoam shippers with cold packs to ensure your wine arrives in peak condition“. My wine arrived in a cardboard box with cardboard inserts, with no cold pack, and felt very warm to the touch, not surprising since it was 97 degrees out when it arrived. When I wrote to Rubicon complaining about them sending the wine in a heat wave and not having shipped it properly, I got back a reply that they were not responsible for weather related problems during shipping, which I thought was irresponsible on their part given when they had chosen to ship it. So rather than letting it sit and age, I drank up all 3 bottles I had ordered within a few days. It was OK, but not great.
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4/1/2023 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 97 Points
Black fruit, cedar, black cherries, chocolate, vanilla, cedar, leather, tobacco, spices, layered complexity, A+ (97).
It’s big Napa Cab with elegance.
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2/11/2023 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 98 Points
Might be the best Rubicon made, it’s a stunning wine.
Black fruit, leather, blue jammy notes, chocolate, herbal notes, fine tobacco, spice, hints of pepper. A+ (98)
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9/12/2022 - kostaslonis wrote:
Aiolos En Primeur Tasting (Aiolos HQ): 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 14%
Beautiful in the nose, density, fruit core, black fruit, spicy, fine oak frame, floral notes. Palate showing more strength, loads of coffee notes, hot, the fruit lies in the back, tight tannins, med body, med to long finish, very tight, needs time.
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8/15/2022 - Basegad wrote: 97 Points
Rated 97 by Wine Enthusiast. Comments from the Vintner:
Visually striking, with its violet-edged, opaque ruby-red color, the 2019 Rubicon opens gradually, revealing notes of blackberry, black cherry and cassis. Upon more aeration, notes of espresso, clove and cassis bud emerge. On the palate, silky and fine-textured tannins are wrapped around a firm structural core that anchors the wine. Subtle hints of tobacco, black licorice and anise during the extended, seamless finish. The overall vibrant energy and refinement of this elegant wine mark it as quintessentially Rubicon.
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