Kunde
With over 100 years of vineyard-farming experience in Sonoma Valley, California, the Kunde family is one of the oldest wine names in Sonoma. In 1904, Louis Kunde purchased a 1,000-acre parcel and planted it with vine cuttings imported from famed producers, including Château Margaux and Château Lafite Rothschild. Today, Kunde offers three different lines of wine: Family Estate Series, Destination Series and Reserve Series. While the Family Estate wines offer a combination of quality and value, it is the Reserve Series that tends to receive the most accolades, according to our Kunde wine ratings. The Destination Series wines are made solely for those who visit the Kunde winery. In 2008, Kunde received California’s coveted Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, honoring the winery’s sustainable practices and facilities. The company is also Certified Sustainable by the Certified Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance for its viticulture and vinification procedures.
Kunde 2000 C.S. Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)
- $22
Very rich and fruity, stuffed with pear, peach and mango flavors that go on and on. Oak and yielding acids give this Chard a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
— S.H.
(12/15/2002)
Kunde 2001 Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)
- $16
A fine young estate Chardonnay from these growers-turned-producers in the heart of the valley. Displays clean and pure apple and peach flavors, and enough oak to season with vanilla and woody spices. Balanced and pretty, and a good match for salmon or crab.
— S.H.
(12/1/2003)
Kunde 2002 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley)
- $15
Very dry, crisp, tart and lemony. This is about as good as this style of Sauvignon Blanc gets in California. The addition of a small amount of Sémillon and Viognier enrichens but does not interfere with the varietal’s refreshing personality.
— S.H.
(12/15/2003)
Kunde 2003 Viognier (Sonoma Valley)
- $23
Dry and crisp, a balanced wine that nonetheless showcases Viognier’s wildly exotic side. Ripe tropical fruits, honeysuckle, Key lime pie, vanilla and cinnamon through the finish.
— S.H.
(12/31/2004)
Kunde 2001 Merlot (Sonoma Valley)
- $18
With their vineyard holdings, Kunde does a great job at varietally true wines at reasonable prices. This dry red wine has flavors of berries, cherries and herbs. It’s soft and gentle, with good supportive acids, tannins and a complex finish.
— S.H.
(8/1/2005)
Kunde 2003 Block 4SB20 Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley)
- $19
A bit pricy, but a good wine for its crisp, minerally mouthfeel and bone-dry, palate-cleansing finish. Has intense flavors of lemons and grapefruits.
— S.H.
(10/1/2005)
Kunde 2004 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma Valley)
- $15
This wine’s fresh and zingy in acidity, and bone dry, with richly textured citrus fruit flavors and the tart, mouthwatering spiciness of green juniper berries. This single-vineyard bottling is almost always a winner.
— S.H.
(12/31/2005)
Kunde 2003 Reserve Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $35
Streamlined, with mineral, Mandarin orange and oak flavors. This pleasant Chard, from estate vineyards in the warm Sonoma Valley, is dry and balanced.
— S.H.
(11/1/2006)
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