2008 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark ruby. Fascinating nose melds dark berries, licorice pastille, violet, coriander, cumin and mint. Fat and sweet for the year, with palate-saturating flavors of crushed black fruits and minerals. The broad, dusty tannins arrive late and build, but there's more than enough mid-palate sweetness to support them. (ST)

The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from multiple fruit sources in Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Coombsville, Oak Knoll and Carneros, was aged in 100% new French oak. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits an opaque purple color, great intensity and a sweet nose of blue and black fruits intermixed with toasty oak, lead pencil shavings and forest floor. Rich, layered and full-bodied with silky tannins, this broad, savory 2008 should drink well for 15 or more years. I loved Buccella’s 2006 and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons and 2008 continues their success. Moreover, the 2009 looks to be very charming. Tel. (707) 944-1000; Fax (707) 944-1122

Bright medium ruby. Blueberry, licorice and violet on the nose, along with a strong mineral component. Higher-pitched and less dense than the 2007, with a distinctly cooler, juicy quality to the black fruit, fresh herb and pepper flavors. Classy wine, but with a bit less stuffing to cover its firm tannins.