1985 Inglenook Niebaum Reserve Claret California Red

1985 Inglenook Niebaum Reserve Claret

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Producer	Inglenook : Napa Valley was shaped by its founding fathers; pioneers who dared to invest in an industry, which at the time was dominated by France. One of the oldest, most interesting story-lines belongs to Inglenook winery and the man who founded the estate in 1879, Gustave Niebaum. Young, wealthy and ambitious, Gustave had a vision of creating an American winery to rival the great chateaux of Europe. Years of challenges and hardships were met with pride and determination and the outcome is written on the label. Today, Inglenook remains the crown jewel of the Napa Valley, under the stewardship of the Coppola family. Gustave “The Captain” Niebaum arrived to San Francisco in 1868, after sailing throughout Alaska and its surrounding islands with a cargo of fur hides and seal skins worth $600,000 (a fortune) where he settled and with a group of partners founded the Alaska Commercial Company. The company established trading posts and shipping lines in Alaskan territory, becoming quite lucrative for the already affluent Niebaum. Within a few years after leaving his native Finland, Niebaum was a multi-millionaire, with a taste for luxury and extravagance, eager to develop a wine brand that would compete with the worlds greatest. Already accomplished, having graduated from Helsinfgors Nautical Institute and captaining his first ship by the age of 21, Gustave began acquiring land for his dream winery, which he spent years developing (after its acquisition). In 1882 the construction of the main house (completed in 1887-still in use today) commenced and in the same year he purchased an additional 712 acres of vines, expanding the estate to more than 1,200 acres of land. The vineyards were re-planted to predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, along with various other French and German varietals. His next step was creating a series of underground caverns for the aging process, mimicking the great caves of Bordeaux. Inglenook enjoyed early success, quickly rising to fame after winning a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition. That notoriety created opportunities for their wines to be placed in all the First Class dining cars on the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The newly found wealth from his success allowed Gustave to continually increase the size of the vineyards, producing a wide range of products including Zinfandel, Bordeaux Blends and sweet dessert wines, with an impressive yearly output. Inglenook was one of, if not the, first California wineries to bottle and sell their own wines, advertising a guarantee of authenticity. In the years following “The Captain’s” death, the estate was faced with uncertainty and unprecedented challenges as Prohibition began crippling California’s wine industry. Gustave’s widow, Susan Niebaum would help keep the estate afloat by selling grapes to home markets and to neighboring Beaulieu Vineyards, which made sacramental wines for the Catholic Church. She would remain in charge of the winery until their grand-nephew, John Daniel Jr. would become of age, which took place in 1939. John Daniel Jr., under the tutelage of Inglenook’s expert winemaker, Carl Bundschu, from the esteemed and highly active Sonoma wine family, continued Captain Neibaum’s commitment to quality. The wine industry was rebuilding and Daniel would help to once again breed confidence in the market and reassure customers with his new found motto “Pride, not profit.” The estate would subsequently win many awards, including the most of any California winery at San Francisco’s Golden Gate International Exposition that marked the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon, produced during Daniel’s tenure would go on to earn the reputation of being “among the best red wines ever made” when it was rated a perfect score (100 points) by Wine Spectator in 1990. After the death of Daniel, the estate, its name and vineyards would be sold off, becoming a corporate venture in which volume and revenue trumped quality. However, the historic estate would be rescued by Award-winning director, writer and film producer, Francis Ford Coppola in 1975. Coppola was determined to restore the estate to its rightful place in history. He spent years re-acquiring the original property and hired legendary winemaker, Andre Tchelistcheff, affectionately known as “The Maestro”. Tchelistcheff is considered America’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker, recognized for his contributions in defining the style of California wines. Ironically, he modestly said that it was John Daniel Jr. rather than himself, who was Napa Valley’s greatest winemaker. A humble yet extraordinary statement which speaks volumes to the quality and success of one of the greatest families to ever own a Napa Valley winery. Coppola’s swift and concentrated efforts on returning the estate to its original calling of quality over quantity, began to formulate and with the inaugural vintage of Rubicon, the estate’s flagship wine, Napa Valley once again saw the rise of Inglenook and one of its iconic wines come to fruition in 1978. Rubicon, the Estate’s premier red wine, reflects the soul of the property and expresses Francis Coppola’s wish to create a Bordeaux-styled grand Wine. Named after the small river crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C., declaring his intention to gain control of Rome, thereby launching a civil war among opposing factions. Over time the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has come to signify any irreversible action with revolutionary intent or the outcome of which holds great risk. True to its uncommon depth, Inglenook's Rubicon continues to be a testament to the finely tuned rendering of a risk well-taken. The flag-ship is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It can certainly be considered Coppola’s “blockbuster” wine creation. Today, the Inglenook estate covers an impressive 1,700 contiguous acres, with nearly 235 acres dedicated to vineyards. French and Italian grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier and Primitivo are currently being cultivated at the estate. The variations in the estate’s topography, its slopes and valleys, greatly reflect the diversity of Napa Valley itself. The terroir is comprised of loamy, well drained soils near the rear of the estate to an expanse of vineyards with deeper, but finer soils located in front of the chateau, contributing to the singularity of Inglenook wines. The varietals are planted in harmony with the best suited soils. In addition to the legendary Rubicon, the Inglenook portfolio also includes Cabernet Sauvignon, RC Reserve Syrah, Edizione Pennino Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and a Northern Rhone white blend, Blancaneaux. Meaning “white waters” in French, it is deservedly Inglenook’s preeminent white wine; a blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne. The wines have become highly sought after and exported around the world. Approximately, 20,000 cases are produced each year with the Inglenook label; a label that has stood the test of time, has been rejuvenated and one which has become truly iconic and legendary.