Buccella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2nd time I have had this wine. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Decanted 2 hours before drinking. No sediment. Crimson color. A rather smooth and elegant Cabernet with blackberry, plum and cocoa notes. Supple tannins on the rich finish. 93 points

2008 vintage

PnP and ready to go at the outset. Similar to previous notes, so won’t repeat them, but this bested a ‘19 Absurd by a nose.

2012 vintage

I am adjusting my drinking dates on this wine and will wait at least two to three more years before drinking my next bottle. Very deep black, purple color, a huge wine, still tannic. I wish I had decanted it. That said, still enjoyable after 30-40 minutes but definitely has upward potential. Blackberries and black cherries in the nose with licorice, floral and mineral notes and a hint of chocolate. Black cherries, black currants, plums and blueberries in the flavor …

2008 vintage

wow, a excellent cab! Full-bodied,with lots of lush sweet fruit and a smooth long finish!

2008 vintage

How can you not like this wine? This is everything an excellent California cab should be. We did not decant this, but probably should have to truly enjoy it. It pours a very dark almost inky red. The nose is very nice, lots of leather and fruit, the alcohol is very slightly protruding. The palate - WOW - so silky smooth, really firing on all cylinders. It is amazing, lots of layers of explosive fruit, long finish, and it just …

2012 vintage

Very generous gift from the very generous Geaux at the end of our recent Napa trip, probably egged on by solicitous comments I’d made on his Buccella notes (I’d never had one previously). On the nose and palate, vibrant and insanely sexy notes of blue and blackberries, huckleberries, mulberries, black currants and a slight note of cassis, dark florals, forest floor, dark chocolate and exotic spice. Deep purple, full bodied, thick legs. Almost no discernible tannins or acidity and what’s …

2012 vintage

Just an excellent wine! Tannins very well integrated, this has a rich, full, earthy/chocolatey expansion in the mouth and a wonderfully warm finish. It likely has 1-2 years of prime life after which I anticipate it won't evolve further but begin to decline. Enjoy!

2012 vintage

QPR off the charts if you bought at release. 45 min of air after a shake decant. Smoke, Asian spice, black cherry, black raspberries, red raspberries, herbal and faint mineral backbone, tannins at bay, oak integrated. Fruit still at the forefront even at 12 yrs, this was awesome. Even Mrs Geaux gushed on this one, remarking that she now understands why we cellar this stuff. While there may be some bottle variation based on past notes, this was a lottery …

2012 vintage

Perfect California CS. Drinking well. Will not likely improve. Drink if you have it.

2008 vintage

At home with Val and Suzy, last tasting 2021. Paired with grilled NY Strip Steaks, asparagus, roasted potatoes, "BLT" Popovers - a killer combo and perfect for a rainy night in. Notes from 2021: "Saturated purple/ruby, no separation. Really expressive nose right out of the bottle, jumps out of the glass...showing dark and blue fruits, floral/violet, faint coffee ground. Rich palate of dark cherry, blueberry pie (still there from my last note...), plum and currant. Cedar and mocha complement the …

2008 vintage

4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag (V&M's) : Blind. Opens with an elegant perfumed floral quality, almost potpourri-like. Notes of black fruit, plum and chocolate are apparent under the floral notes. Full-bodied, with medium tannin and flavors of plum, espresso powder, black fruit and chocolate. Finishes with good length. Balanced. I suspected this might be our bottle as it seemed a touch older, but as I switched bottles I wasn't entirely sure. This had been double decanted off its sediment …

2008 vintage

PnP and ready from the start, but hit peak drinking at 90 min. Hints of tertiary earthy notes starting to creep into a lovely floral perfume, black cherry, red raspberry, black raspberry, blackberry beauty. Faint notes of empty cigar box and saddle leather compliment. Oak and tannins integrated, plenty of acid to keep the fruit fresh for a couple more years. I plan to finish off my last three bottles by 2027 (1 x year). 94 to start, 96 at …

2012 vintage

Beautiful wine. Long finish. Opened up over three hours. This wine has more time.

2008 vintage

Little disappointed. As per recent notes, drank after PNP. Seemed tired. Cherry predominant in nose and palate. Nose full of earthy notes but the palate seemed mildly oxidized, despite seemingly good provenance from source and personal cellaring for the past 3 years. I did find some chocolate and anise notes that brought depth. Gave it some air and it smoothed out a further but def didnt seem like it would hold up more than a few hours. Will lower expectations …

2008 vintage

Opened and into a decanter. A little worry that the cork crumbled, which required some surgery, but those worries were forgotten quickly. Threw off a lot of sediment. Deep black with red tinge, no signs of bricking. Nice glycerin feel across the palate. Delicious from the get go. Intense aromas and flavors that really surprised us for a 10+ yr old wine. Florals, dried blueberries, macerated blueberries, plum, black cherry, mint chocolate, tilled soil, Asian spice. No hard edges and …

2012 vintage

PnP. Early notes of black olive and anise, along with some VA blew off within 15 min, leaving a nicely integrated beauty. Came across as elegant for a Buccella. Blackberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, hint of spice. Medium to long finish. In the zone, no need to hold, this bottle did not have the acid level I would expect, not sure if an off bottle or an indication the drinking window ends sooner rather than later. Guess I will have …

2012 vintage

Magnificent cabernet, we enjoyed it more not decanted -

2008 vintage

My lone bottle and this was amazing from the pop. Great nose and wonderful complexity and fruit on the palate. Had a lot going on and gained steam as it was open. Brought to a wine dinner with wonderful friends and the bottle was gone pretty quickly. My last bottle from this producer. I will likely look to source more. Wonderful juice and wine of the night for me amongst some heavyweights.

2008 vintage

Purple power monster. Ready to drink NOW. This is not a Bordeaux and you dont buy this for tertiary flavors, you buy it because you like fruit, oak, alcohol, and power. Drink 2023-2025 and decant for a couple of hours. There is no way to dislike this wine if you want pure hedonism. Old world fans please stay 30 feet away from this wine !

2012 vintage

Out of a magnum. Deep purplish and ruby red. With just a little air this really starts singing. Layered with crushed dark chocolate, blackberries, cassis and a bit of baking spices. A gritty like texture on the palate with medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and medium plus to full bodied. Similar notes on the palate with some black cherries and graphite. Long finish. Drink till 2033.

2012 vintage

Mag. Outstanding. Decanted 2+ hours.

2012 vintage

PnP and ready from the start. Black and blue fruited beauty with no hard edges anywhere. Blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry, blueberry, hint of char and dark chocolate. This is now in the zone, no need to wait. Got better with air, but also went quick. I’ll start accelerating my way through the remaining six bottles.

2012 vintage

F-me! From Benchmark, yet another corked bottle! Don’t love the wet cardboard!

2008 vintage

Compared to the bottle I had back in 2018, this has matured more and taken on a bit more baked fruit profile. Similar notes to walkerjwf. Full bodied, with lots of dark red fruit (dark cherry, black plum) and blue fruits, licorice, bit of cigar box, and mild baking spices. This is all balanced with medium acidity and sweet, rounded tannins. Long, palate staining finish. Very Napa Valley. In a fantastic spot right now but can still perform at high …

2008 vintage

5th bottle of a case purchased on release and now a little over two years since my last bottle. 2 hr decant and needed as this thing kicked off a ton of bottle dirt! Oh Buccella how I missed thee! It has been way too long! Initial nose- floral perfume, fresh crushed black cherries and black raspberries, hint of blueberries, dark chocolate -such a heavenly delight! On the palate, similar reddish black fruit notes, good mid palate, long finish, but …

2012 vintage

Double decanted and sat for an hour. Drank it side by side with a 2002 Buccella CS that was opened the night before. A vibrant, dark purple color. Black plum, cherry and heavy black pepper jump out of the glass. The tannins are medium plus and typical for this vintage. I’m very optimistic about this wine and think it will age very well after drinking it with the 2002 (see my 2002 tasting note). Upgrading my 2002 rating from a …

2012 vintage

Brought to dinner at Valentina's with Val/Charlotte/Krista/Mike...time to check in on it. Cork crumbled on the way out (no effect on the wine). Strained and splash decanted. Drank over 2 hours, bringing some home... Saturated purple/ruby, no separation. Really expressive nose right out of the bottle, jumps out of the glass...showing dark and blue fruits, floral/violet, faint coffee ground. Rich palate of dark cherry, blueberry pie (still there from my last note...), plum and currant. Cedar and mocha complement the …

2008 vintage

In my opinion, this wine is at its peak or really close to it. Decanted for 45 minutes and was very impressed. It is the perfect mix of fruit and tertiary flavors at this point. Will probably hold in that state for another 2 years and then the fruit will most likely start to take a back seat to the earthy flavors that will emerge more strongly. I prefer California cabs between 8-15 years old so this was right in …

2008 vintage

This wine is still going strong. Decanted for an hour. Wonderful dark fruit and chocolate undertones. Enjoyed with our standing rib roast.

2008 vintage

Amazingly balanced fruit and tannins. Silky finish. Superb wine.

2012 vintage

Floral aromatics with blackberry and slight oak. Hits the palate with silky tannins and flavors of black cherry, licorice and dark chocolate. It also has an earthiness that gives it structure through a long smooth finish.

2012 vintage

Decanted for 40 min and consumed over the next 2 hours. It’s a big body multilayered, delicious Cabernet. The finish is long and persistent. I see a bright future ahead for this wine... 94+

2012 vintage

This is my third review of this wine, four years later. Am blown away with the incredible nose of sweet black and blue fruits with a hint of coffee...amazing. Despite 12 years in the bottle, this has become more concentrated and complex with layered, rich and expressive dark blackberry fruit and more intense notes of mocha, violet, chocolate and licorice. Super smooth tannins, silky and delicious...this is terrific.

2008 vintage

Outstanding! Black cherry in color, lots of dark fruit, currants, chocolate and spice. A rich, full bodied intense wine with layers and layers that unfold in your mouth with a long finish.

2008 vintage

Continues to be a wonderful wine, very smooth with lots of dark fruit and a long finish.

2012 vintage

Either this bottle was over the hill or was just bad. Initial nose of plum and fig and the palate was only fruit with no tannin. Hoping it was just a bad bottle as I'd be very disappointed if a 2008 Buccella couldn't go 11 years.

2008 vintage

3 hr decant. Red cherries, candies cherries, saline. Got even better as we drank. Still could use some cellar time. Good, not great, but really expected more. A lot of potential here. These really need 10 yrs to show their best.

2012 vintage

Wonderful aromatics of violets and black fruit. Decanted for an hour, the wine exhibited layers of plum, blackberry, oak and black cherry. 15.5% alcohol yet still smooth and long on the finish.

2012 vintage

Very nice, needs decanting, rich berries and smoke, well integrated tannins. Purchased this wine from the winery opened the first bottle after six years. This will be better as time goes on. Really nice wine.

2012 vintage

No decanting necessary as this dark garnet gem was smooth from the very first pour. Raspberry and oak bouquet with layers of plum, black cherry and blueberry fruit on the palate. Full-bodied with a smooth long finish.

2012 vintage

Very deep, rich purple. Pronounced aromas of figs, plums, fruit preserves, vanilla, liquorice, prunes, savory. Fully developed wine. It is dry , medium plus acidity. Very fine medium tannins, high alcohol, full body, pronounced flavors of tar, prunes, black cherry, game. Finish is medium plus. Very good, drink now or can be aged for a few more years.

2008 vintage

Still Excellent. But fruit has dropped off significantly. Time to drink up if you have any left. Drank alongside a 2008 O’Shaughnessy Howell Mountain which had held up much better.

2008 vintage

high alcohol, but still great, especially on the third day

2012 vintage

This is a big wine, Dark Ruby Color with Plums and Current on the nose. Pronounced acid and alcohol and and fruit with medium or less tannins. The Big jammy fruit was over riding this wine in my opinion and a little of balance. It deal have a lengthy finish.

2012 vintage

Decanted for 1 hour. Balanced for a 15.1 alcohol. Classic California Cab enjoyed very much and worth the price purchased in 2012.

2008 vintage

Dark ruby red with a fantastic, fresh nose of cassis, raspberry, espresso, and graphite. Full-bodied with a dense, firm, and complex palate of red and black fruits. Currants, black raspberry liqueur, espresso, dark chocolate, spices, and hint of crushed rocks are seamlessly integrated with the acid and tannins. No sign of oak, which allows the fruit to shine. You can tell that the fruit is sourced from some high quality vineyards; however, because it is sourced from so many different …

2008 vintage

I was somewhat ambivalent about this wine .... a short splash decant may have served it well. Explosive bouquet of dense blackberry, cassis, autumn leaves, woodsmoke, and dark fruit. Not too fruit forward but definitely rich and mouthcoating. Black raspberry, mushroom, dark cherry, and a hint of umami on the palate. I just sense something was missing in both the mid range and slightly bitter finish. Maybe in time this fans out a bit..... Questionable cost factor here as the …

2012 vintage

PDQ94 Big, lush, and no holds barred. Not for the faint of heart.

2008 vintage

Smooth but complex. Drinking very well.

2008 vintage

As predicted, this Cab has become better. Even more full bodied, richer and complex, this Buccella cab has more pronounced milk chocolate, mocha and cassis notes. While big and layered, this isn't a fruit bomb...this is a well made, complex Cabernet with a finish that lingers in your mouth and is delicious.

2008 vintage

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Buccella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

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