1986 Niebaum Coppola, Rubicon Napa Valley Red Blend
Condition:good
The 1986 Rubicon, which is scheduled for release in September (the winery only releases their red wines when they are at least six years old), is not as robust and rustic as some of its predecessors. However, it is concentrated and full-bodied, with a big, spicy, earthy, cassis-scented nose, and rich, full-bodied flavors that reveal considerable extraction of fruit and tannins. The wine is just beginning to open up, and after sixty minutes in a decanter, there was perceptible evolution and softening. I have often thought that renowned movie director/producer, Francis Ford Coppola, has wanted to make Cabernet in the image of an Italian Barolo, but the 1986 leans more toward a classic expression of traditional, ageworthy, concentrated Napa Valley Cabernet. It should last for 15-20 years.
WA90