2005 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon struts its stuff in an elegant but powerful style, with notes of black fruits, burning embers, roasted meats, and a hint of subtle bay leaf. The wine has terrific fruit concentration, full-bodied power, substantial but ripe tannins, and a long, long finish. This wine should drink nicely for at least two decades. I first tasted these wines when they were made by Mark Herold, but he has been replaced by the well-known winemaker Celia Masyczek. Tel. (707) 944-1000; Fax (707) 944-1122
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Saturated deep ruby. Deep, enticing aromas of black fruits, bitter chocolate and black cardamom. Lush and creamy-sweet, but with ripe, integrated acidity giving shape to the highly concentrated flavors of blueberry, blackberry and dark chocolate. This outsized, dramatic cabernet is fat with fruit, but its seamless, velvety texture and sappy quality make it extremely easy to drink. Finishes lush and strong, with sweet tannins and palate-coating fruit.
(15.1% alcohol; includes bits of merlot and cab franc) Bright, full ruby. Pure aromas of cassis, blackberry, graphite, minerals and licorice, with a liqueur-like nuance. Then juicy, firm and pure, with enough flavor intensity and stuffing to buffer the firm acidity and solid, building tannins. Ultimately more shapely and less unctuous than the 2004, but youthfully tight today.