Cabernet Sauvignon (2015)

About this wine

The 2015 Gundlach Bundschu Cabernet Sauvignon shows concentrated black currant and black cherry on the nose with hints of tobacco, cedar and dark chocolate. On the palate it is medium to full bodied with a dense core of fruit, savory dried herb notes and a touch of menthol. The wine’s texture is structured and mouth coating, supported by noticeable but fine grained tannins and lively acidity. It spent 18 months in 100 percent French oak with 45 percent new barrels which contributes to the toasted spice and vanilla tones. The blend is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the grapes are hand harvested, given a cold soak and fermented using a mix of indigenous yeasts and D254. The alcohol is about 14.8 percent and the wine reflects Gundlach Bundschu’s Rhinefarm site with cool nights and long hang time that keep freshness while delivering concentrated flavors.

About the grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is the backbone of this wine, brought to life on Rhinefarm estate plantings between 150 and 300 feet on rocky rhyolitic volcanic soils, mainly planted to clone 8 with pockets of 337, 338 and 191 and farmed to low yields for concentration. Petit Verdot, a late ripening variety prized for deep color and tannin, is used in small percentage to add structure and was grown on the same southwesterly Mayacamas slopes to benefit from long daylight and cooling maritime breezes. Malbec and Merlot provide mid palate roundness and plushness, both planted in estate Bordeaux blocks and harvested selectively to preserve balance, while Cabernet Franc is included in tiny amounts to lend aromatic lift and a savory note, often coming from older rootstock and carefully managed canopy. The Bundschu family uses organic estate farming across these blocks, hand harvests and treats lots separately with cold soaks and 18 months in French oak, so each varietal is cultivated and vinified to contribute its traditional Bordeaux role in a Sonoma Valley expression.

Quick facts

• 🎨 The 2015 Cabernet is part of Gundlach Bundschu's Vintage Reserve tradition where each vintage gets a commissioned artist label, making the bottle a collectible piece of art.
• 🏔️ Most of the fruit for this wine comes from steep Mayacamas slopes planted on rhyolitic volcanic ash, which helps produce small concentrated berries in 2015.
• 👪 Gundlach Bundschu is California's oldest continuously family owned winery, so this 2015 carries six generations of the Bundschu family story in the bottle.
• 🍇 The 2015 growing season delivered unusually low yields and tiny berries, so this Cabernet shows extra concentration and was widely praised for long term aging potential.
• 🛢️ This wine spent extensive time in French oak, about 18 to 20 months with a high percentage of new barrels from top coopers, giving it bold structure and spice driven oak notes.

Palate profile

Producer

Gundlach Bundschu Winery, established in 1858 by Bavarian immigrant Jacob Gundlach, is California's oldest continuously family-owned winery. Located in Sonoma, the 320-acre Rhinefarm estate has been stewarded by six generations of the Gundlach-Bundschu family. The winery has a rich history, including surviving the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which destroyed its production facilities and one million gallons of wine. Today, under the leadership of Jeff Bundschu, the winery focuses on producing small lots of ultra-premium wines from its historic vineyards.