Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma County Mountain Cuvee
Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma County Mountain Cuvee is a Bordeaux-inspired red blend in a 750mL bottle at about 14.2% ABV, from California's oldest family-owned winery — founded in Sonoma in 1858 and now in its sixth generation. Built on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in supporting roles, it sources from the family's Rhinefarm estate and hand-selected Mayacamas Mountain vineyards. Juicy red fruit, silky tannins, and a dark-chocolate finish make it the winery's everyday-luxury pour. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: ~14.2% (bottle-reported; recent vintages range 14.2-14.8%)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Bordeaux-style red blend (Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot based; no vintage on title — blend varies by vintage)
- Origin: Sonoma County, California — Rhinefarm estate + Mayacamas Mountain vineyards
- Winery: Gundlach Bundschu, est. 1858; sixth-generation family owned
Sonoma's Oldest Family, Bottled
The Bundschu family has farmed Rhinefarm since 1858 — surviving the 1906 earthquake, Prohibition, and everything after — and Mountain Cuvee is their argument that great red wine doesn't need a special occasion. The blend shifts with the vintage (the 2023 ran 57% Cabernet Sauvignon / 39% Merlot / 2% Cabernet Franc / 2% Malbec; others lean harder into Merlot or add Zinfandel and Syrah), but the brief never changes: ripe boysenberry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruit, a hint of toasty oak, and an elegant structure the winery itself calls "dangerously easy-drinking." Since the store title carries no vintage, the copy above keeps to house facts. Shop more red wine and California wine, or the Gundlach Bundschu collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The winery describes layer upon layer of ripe fruit — boysenberry, cranberry, pomegranate — with toasty oak, juicy red fruit, black currants, and a dark-chocolate finish. Reviews note silky tannins, hints of cedar, and an elegant, crowd-pleasing structure.
How to Enjoy
Room temperature, ideally with a little air — the winery's own pairing is backyard burgers; it equally suits steak, hearty pasta, and hard cheeses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Mountain Cuvee?
A Bordeaux-style blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot; proportions vary by vintage.
Is Gundlach Bundschu really the oldest family winery in California?
Yes — founded in 1858, it is California's oldest family-owned winery, now run by the sixth generation.
What vintage is this bottle?
The listing carries no vintage; check the bottle for the year's blend and scores.
Six generations of Sonoma in one glass — order Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma County Mountain Cuvee online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.