The Rubio EstateFounded: 2003 by Francisco Rubio
Region and grape source: The winery and their vineyards are located in Valle de Guadalupe approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Ocean. All grapes are sourced from their estate vineyards.
Vineyard specifics: Valle de Guadalupe - 1,100 ft - (Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Chenin Blanc, Palomino). Clay and decomposed sandstone mix. The site is one of the highest on the valley wall and has a gentle slope that faces southwest. 14 miles from the Pacific. Farming is organic.
Winemaker: Alberto Rubio (Mexican born, lives in Valle de Guadalupe)
Notes:
- They are the definition of a family run winery - all grapes are picked by hand and every family member has a role in an aspect of the operation. The tribe stays together.
- The elephants on the labels each represent specific members of the family. The animal serves as a symbol of the fact that elephants always operate in packs or family units and have the survival strategy of surrounding, (rather than out running as is the strategy of survival for many species) the young, fragile and old members of the community when under attack. If you visit their winery, you find their father running the tastings, their mother serving the food, the cousin making the wine, the younger brother running the kitchen, etc.
Total production: 10 acres under vine, 6 wines, 2,000 cases
2022 Reserva - Bodegas F. Rubio
Tasting Notes and Drinking Window:
The Rubio family’s flagship wine returns in a vintage defined by precision and restraint. Reduced rainfall naturally lowered yields, concentrating the fruit and delivering pitch-perfect ripeness across the vineyard. As always, only the finest clusters were selected by hand and aged in the estate’s top barrels. The thoughtful inclusion of 11% Merlot brings a fuller, more layered expression—adding depth, supple texture, and a slightly more accessible profile in its youth. The result is a full-bodied wine of quiet power and poise, offering richness without weight and a seamless, graceful finish that seems to carry effortlessly across the palate.
Only 130 cases made
Drinking window – on release (with decant) – 25 years
Vintage:
2022
Blend:
89% Cabernet sauvignon, 11% Merlot
Producer:
Bodegas F. Rubio
Winemaker:
Alberto Rubio - Mexican
Vineyards:
Valle de Guadalupe - Estate vineyards composed of clay and decomposed sandstone mix. The site is one of the highest on the valley wall and has a gentle slope that faces southwest.
Winemaking:
All grapes were sourced from the organically farmed estate vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon on September 5thand Merlot on Sept 13. All clusters go through an initial sorting for their regular wines but grapes that go into this wine undergo a second more fastidious sorting such that often vintages don’t provide enough grapes to make this wine. After fermenting in stainless steel tank, it’s racked and passed to very select French oak barrels where it’s aged for 18 months before bottling. 35 ppm sulfites.
Alcohol:
14.6%
