Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir 2005

Gundlach Bundschu (G-B)  is old.  Don’t get me wrong: it isn’t old like, say, Haut-Brion, but it’s about as old as it gets on this side of the pond.  Purchased in the 1850’s, the family’s Rhinefarm property has been churning out pretty solid fruit ever since.  Known for it’s Bordeaux varietals, G-B nevertheless offers a surprisingly diverse array of other varietals, including the ever-present pinot noir.

Located at the foot of Arrowhead mountain, the Rhinefarm vineyard offers cool temperatures and an abundance of loamy, clay soil: a solid foundation for pinot noir. In the glass the wine has an earthy, garnet hue. Warm, ripe, red fruit aromas are balanced by a leafy earthiness. The relatively cool temperatures of the Rhinefarm, however, allow for a much more evenly balanced profile than the weighty juiciness of the nose suggests. A slightly sour palate of bright raspberry is offset against a delicately-expressed woodiness. Solidly structured and possessed of a driving acidity, this is the rare California pinot that doesn’t fall flat on it’s face when paired with a meal.

At $35, this wine doesn’t come super-cheap. That being said, it actually offers a pretty fair value when viewed against the plethora of over-priced, post-Sideways pinots. Moreover, the guys from G-B have always been pretty cool. The Sonoma Valley stalwarts once hijacked Richard Branson’s bus while he was touring Napa wineries. That bit of awesomeness is worth the price of admission all on its own.

J.

Tags: California, Gundlach Bundschu, pinot noir, rhinefarm, richard branson, sonoma valley
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