Sonoma Wine Flight Features Syrah and Vintage Cabernets with Steak Diane Dinner
Tasted w/ L at Bill and Beth C's over dinner - Beth prepared a delicious Steak Diane with roasted potatoes with shallots and onions that was a perfect complement to showcase the Sonoma Valley Cabernet flight, as was the selection of chocolate and assorted petit-forts deserts. A selection of artisan cheeses inlcuding my favorite Bellavitano were perfect with the bold forward Constant Syrah and the opener Pinot Noir.
The wines:
Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyards - Queen of Diamonds Estate - Northern Sonoma Syrah 2006
We picked up this wine during our winery visit to the spectacular Constant Vineyards property at the very top of Diamond Mountain during our 2011 Diamond Mountain Experience. Sitting at the summit at 2100 feet elevation it is the only Sonoma vineyard on Diamond Mountain.
Dark purple color - medium-full bodied. Bright vibrant lively full forward flavors of blue and black fruits with a layer of ripe plum and sweet clove, hints of tea and cedar on the lingering finish. While this is tasty now, it lacks backbone and structure for longevity.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=775651
Gundlach Bundschu Rheinfarm Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
In a blind tasting one might mistake this for a Margaux Bordeaux! Dark inky purple color, medium-full bodied; big floral perfume scents and flavors of violets and rose petals gives way to dark black berry and raspberry fruit flavors with complex layer of leather and tea with hint of earth and herbs on a moderate tannin finish. Amazing life left in this fifteen year old.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=136899
http://www.gunbun.com/
We met and had an enjoyable visit with producer Jeff Bundschu back in February 2005 in Chicago at the Silicon Valley Bank hosted wine producer wine tasting and networking event held at the One North Wacker restaurant.We stopped in at the winery and vineyard during following Sonoma Valley visits. We need to schedule a tour and tasting on our next Sonoma trip.
Gundlach Bundschu Rheinfarm Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Dark inky purple color - medium bodied. Not as polished or complex as the 1997 perhaps reflecting a more modest vintage. Dark berry fruit flavors are more subdued giving way to a layer of mineral and tea and hint of leather on the moderate finish..
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=109617
Hanna Bismark Mountain Vineyard Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Dark inky purple color - medium-full bodied; a bit tight but slightly bigger and more complex than the other cabs perhaps indicative of the mountain fruit; somewhat subdued black berry and black raspberry fruits give way to a layer of tea and mineral, hint of smoke and a slight vegetable herbal tone that detracts from the fruit.
RM 88 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=54725
Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir 2008
Bill C's Cellartracker Wine Tasting Notes posting -
"Nicely balanced Pinot. Medium red in the glass. Long legs imply more glycerine than I think is really there. Nose is light and a bit on the earthy, herbal side. Maybe a bit of cherry also. Cherry also reveals itself on the palate with a touch of strawberry. Nice overall, well balanced but at $40, a bit pricey for what it is."
I found it nicely balanced and as noted in Bill's post but bit austere with a slight cherry tartness note.
WCC and RM 88 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1035962
See Bill's WineBlog - http://billswines.blogspot.com/ .
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| Bill decanting the Sonoma Cabs |
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| Beth preparing the Steak Diane |
We picked up this wine during our winery visit to the spectacular Constant Vineyards property at the very top of Diamond Mountain during our 2011 Diamond Mountain Experience. Sitting at the summit at 2100 feet elevation it is the only Sonoma vineyard on Diamond Mountain.
Dark purple color - medium-full bodied. Bright vibrant lively full forward flavors of blue and black fruits with a layer of ripe plum and sweet clove, hints of tea and cedar on the lingering finish. While this is tasty now, it lacks backbone and structure for longevity.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=775651
In a blind tasting one might mistake this for a Margaux Bordeaux! Dark inky purple color, medium-full bodied; big floral perfume scents and flavors of violets and rose petals gives way to dark black berry and raspberry fruit flavors with complex layer of leather and tea with hint of earth and herbs on a moderate tannin finish. Amazing life left in this fifteen year old.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=136899
http://www.gunbun.com/
We met and had an enjoyable visit with producer Jeff Bundschu back in February 2005 in Chicago at the Silicon Valley Bank hosted wine producer wine tasting and networking event held at the One North Wacker restaurant.We stopped in at the winery and vineyard during following Sonoma Valley visits. We need to schedule a tour and tasting on our next Sonoma trip.
Dark inky purple color - medium bodied. Not as polished or complex as the 1997 perhaps reflecting a more modest vintage. Dark berry fruit flavors are more subdued giving way to a layer of mineral and tea and hint of leather on the moderate finish..
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=109617
Dark inky purple color - medium-full bodied; a bit tight but slightly bigger and more complex than the other cabs perhaps indicative of the mountain fruit; somewhat subdued black berry and black raspberry fruits give way to a layer of tea and mineral, hint of smoke and a slight vegetable herbal tone that detracts from the fruit.
RM 88 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=54725
Bill C's Cellartracker Wine Tasting Notes posting -
"Nicely balanced Pinot. Medium red in the glass. Long legs imply more glycerine than I think is really there. Nose is light and a bit on the earthy, herbal side. Maybe a bit of cherry also. Cherry also reveals itself on the palate with a touch of strawberry. Nice overall, well balanced but at $40, a bit pricey for what it is."
I found it nicely balanced and as noted in Bill's post but bit austere with a slight cherry tartness note.
WCC and RM 88 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1035962
See Bill's WineBlog - http://billswines.blogspot.com/ .