1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District

Of the winemakers who wrestle annually with Diamond Mountain muscular cabernet fruit, Rudy von Strasser has compiled the best record for making balanced wines in recent years. He has recently expanded his caves and is building a new crush pad as part of his campaign to become the major player on Diamond Mountain. Von Strasser, who bought this property next door to Diamond Creek Vineyards in 1990, has sharply increased his estate production by doubling up the rows and terraces on his original six acres of vines and by planting several new acres of vines during the '90s. He will supplement his own production by buying fruit from the best growers on Diamond Mountain. With the '99 vintage, von Strasser will offer a Diamond Mountain cabernet sauvignon (from a blend of vineyards), a vineyard-designated tier of reds, which will include his own estate cabernet, and a reserve tier, which will not necessarily be from estate fruit.