1997 Niebaum-Coppola Estate Merlot

Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery is a historic, 190-acre estate in Rutherford, in California’s Napa Valley which, since 2006, has reverted to its 19th century name, Inglenook. The estate was founded in 1879 by a sea captain named Gustave Niebaum, who called his estate Inglenook and dreamed of making European-quality wine. Inglenook wines became a benchmark for the young California wine industry in the early 20th century. In 1975 filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and his wife bought Niebaum’s home, and in 1995 they bought the Inglenook chateau and 80 acres of vineyards. In 2011 the Coppola’s bought the Inglenook trademark and have begun calling the estate by its historic name of Inglenook. Niebaum-Coppola makes several labels and much of their wine is made from purchased grapes. The flagship wine is Rubicon, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. The estate also makes Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a white Rhone-style blend.

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

The Merlot grape is such a deep blue that it is named for the blackbird. It’s an early ripening grape and one of the primary varietals used In Bordeaux. Merlot is also grown in the "International style," which is harvested later to bring out more tannins and body.