A Bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sonoma Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon grown on Rhinefarm creates wines of depth and power, well-integrated tannin structure, intense dark fruit and layers of cocoa and cassis. Our Cabernet Sauvignons age beautifully up to ten years and beyond.

BUY THIS WINE

Philosophy

Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Cabernet from our Rhinefarm is shy – it doesn’t reveal itself quickly. Napa Cabernets often announce themselves as the life of the party but Rhinefarm Cabs are serious, dark and deep with lots of food-friendly tannin. They’re designed to age, Bordeaux-style. Cooler nights and cooler mornings help shape our style of Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as our meticulous handwork in the vineyards. The grapes need a long time to ripen to perfection and thus, are the first vines we prune since they need that extra time to develop. With this grape, patience is key to creating beautiful, vineyard-driven wine. In general, we pick Cabernet Sauvignon around Halloween before the rain arrives for the winter, then optically sort them with as much gentle handing as possible.

Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon represents our most widely planted grape variety. The vines are planted on the steep, southwestern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, ranging from 150 to 300 feet in elevation and eight miles north of the San Pablo Bay. The plots were planted from 1999 to 2008, mostly to clone 8 but intermixed in certain blocks are 337, 338 and 191 as well. The soil profile is a shallow, Rhyolitic volcanic ash, typical of the alluvial fans that comprise the lower Mayacamas Range. With its southwest facing slopes, the site receives optimum sunlight and temperatures during the growing season. Pervasive maritime breezes and long daylight exposure allow fruit to develop intense concentration while retaining vibrant structure. Average yields are 3.5 tons per acre.

Hand harvested in the cool morning hours by block, we optically sort the grapes and give them a five-day cold soak before fermentation, using a combination of indigenous yeasts and D254. We use gentle pumpovers to achieve color and flavor extraction, tailored by lot and employ louvers and screens to avoid pumping seeds and skins. The wine enjoys 18 months in 100% French oak, with 45% new barrels, before being released.

Pairing Riffs

At Gundlach Bundschu, we make great wine but also like to have fun. We recommend enjoying our Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon in many ways:

  • Après Ski fireplace
  • Spotify Jazz Station
  • A perfect steak
  • Hearty stew
  • Hard cheeses like Cheddar, Gouda, Asiago or Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • Dinner with friends

specifications

Vintage:
2015
Wine Type:
Red Wine
Varietal:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Varietal Composition:
  • 85% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 5% Petit Verdot
  • 3% Malbec
  • 2% Merlot
  • 1% Cabernet Franc
Appellation:
Sonoma Valley
Acid:
TA: 0.54 g/100mL
PH:
3.81
Barrel Aging:
  • 18 months
    100% French Oak
    45% New
    Primary coopers Vicard, Taransaud & Ermitage
Alcohol %:
14.8%