2020 Inglenook, Rubicon, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA
- Joe Czerwinski
- 93/100
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
- 96/100
- Jane Anson MW
- 97/100
Inglenook’s story begins with Finnish sea captain Gustave Niebaum, who established the estate to craft wines to rival Europe’s finest. Despite challenges—including closure during Prohibition—Inglenook rose to renewed prominence in the 1940s under the stewardship of John Daniel, when its wines gained acclaim as benchmarks of quality and elegance in Napa Valley.
The modern chapter of Inglenook was written by Francis Ford Coppola, who acquired the estate in 1975 using proceeds from The Godfather. Over the decades, Coppola reunited the original vineyards, secured the historic Inglenook name in 2008, and elevated the estate to its former glory. Today, with the expertise of renowned consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, Inglenook produces wines that honour its heritage while embracing modern precision, cementing its place among Napa Valley’s most revered producers.