Ron R

9.5

Fully ripe, intense and concentrated. Nose displays black cherries and coffee notes. Palate presents a muscular structure of dense tannins and cedar notes. I also detect hints of maple and blackberry spice. For a second wine, I just shake my head as it’s brilliantly made and so expressive. Why pay triple for the Buccella, but then most of us like to display our net worth I guess… no rush to consume these. I estimate another 7 - 10 years of runway ahead of this, maybe more. — 2 months ago

with Anne-marie

Shay A

9.4

This is the youngest Buccella I’ve had, and the experience was very interesting. Knowing the style, as well as previous experiences with the producer, these fall in to the plush, decadent and hedonistic type bucket. Flavor is always turned up to 11 with silky texture. With this bottle, I experienced those things, but only in waves. It seemed to be a rollercoaster where it was rocking at pop and pour, shut down after some air, and then slightly opened back up after 24hrs.

Stain your glass purple in color! Wow. A total explosion of decadent flavors aromatically...dark chocolate shavings, cassis, baked mixed berry pie, plenty of baking spices like vanilla and nutmeg, and black licorice. On the palate, the structure is chameleon like...it pulls you in with freshly squeezed dark fruits and melted fondue chocolate before snapping back with a chewy, tannic, and dense finish. 24hrs smooths it out and reveals espresso, candied blueberries and blackberries. Fruit forward Cabernet that packs a punch but tries to soften the blow by being sexy. — 4 years ago

Aaron Means

9.4

A textural treat. This and Buccella are some of the best textural wines on the market. Massive tannins yet they are fine and round. Dark berry compote, cocoa, plum, mild licorice, graphite. A baby waiting to be born. Too bad most will drink this way too young because it delivers oodles immediately after popping the cork. — 6 years ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.2

A tad sweet despite the vintage, — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.4

On my first trip out to Napa (2015), Jarvis was one of the favorites, and so we went back in 2016 and again in 2018. We go to Napa every year, and it’s one of the only wineries we have visited multiple times.

This was part of a retrospective on 2012 Napa cabs, alongside Shafer HSS, Scarecrow, Morlet CdV, Bryant DB4, Dominus, Pulido Walker Melanson, Kapscandy, Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen and others. Definitely the most restrained.

For some reason, I always get a streak of green peppercorn on all of the reds from Jarvis. It’s not off putting, just a signature of the winemaking. I’ve never found these wines to be overblown/high alcohol. They aren’t quite Bordeaux like, but they are clearly in between current Napa style and a restrained bridge to Bordeaux. This 2012 was true to the above. Aromatics here has green peppercorn, tar, underripe black fruits and a very fragrant potpourri note. Even after being open a few hours this was strong with zippy acidity surrounded by pepper crusted blackberries, mocha, black cherries and even some leather (not Brett driven, though). Blind, maybe someone takes this to left bank Bordeaux in a ripe vintage…but the kiss of sweetness is hard to take away from Napa. Wonderfully delicious and complex Cabernet starting to enter a great drinking window.

— 2 years ago

Eric

9.6

Dig it. All the trademark Buccella traits like plush candied oak with a Rhone skeleton of wild game and pepper. Cool neon purple too. Looks like they got a new winemaker in -15? Fingers crossed. — 7 years ago

Chris Anton

9.3

Wow! What a fantastic cab. Love every sip. — a year ago

Eric

9.7

Complex and beastly. Great caramel note at the end. — 4 years ago

Dean Bernal Sr.

9.2

2014 Buccella Merlot for Cab drinkers. — 5 years ago

with Julie, April and 2 others

Shawn R

9.3

Needs about an hour to open up. Suave bottle, that was fun to drink next to the entry level Buccella. Polar opposite wines. — 5 years ago