2008 Buoncristiani Family Cabernet Sauvignon The Core
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Tasting notes
Full medium ruby. Brooding, oaky aromas of cassis and blueberry, kept under wraps today by medicinal suggestions of licorice, menthol and tar. Dense and dark but essentially supple, with dark berry and licorice flavors dominating. More gritty and less graceful than the Napa Valley cabernet, finishing with slightly bitter oak tannins that give the fruit a dry edge today. Needs time, but I wonder if it will ever show the fruit sweetness of the less expensive NV version.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon The Core is big, rich and riper than the 10th Anniversary, but just as the fruit is concentrated, so are the tannins. Ultimately The Core comes across as a bit over-extracted. Twenty-four months in 100% new oak barrels seems too much here. I prefer the simpler wines.
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon The Core is big, rich and riper than the 10th Anniversary, but just as the fruit is concentrated, so are the tannins. Ultimately The Core comes across as a bit over-extracted. Twenty-four months in 100% new oak barrels seems too much here. I prefer the simpler wines. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. Tel. (707) 259-1681