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Brian Pasch Expert Wine Reviews

What's New

• 06-15-2008 - Restaurant Nicholas Our Top Pick
• 06-01-2008 - Mollydooker Wine Event - August 23rd
• 05-10-2008 - 2004 Dalla Valle Cabernet
• 05-05-2008 - 2005 Scarecrow Cabernet
• 05-05-2008 - 2004 Maiden Cabernet Review
• 04-25-2008 - 2005 Ghost Block Cabernet
• 04-19-2008 - 2005 Meander Cabernet
• 04-18-2008 - 2005 Maybach Materium
• 04-07-2008 - 2004 Sage Cabernet
• 04-05-2008 - 2005 Buccella Cabernet
• 02-20-2008 - 2004 Modus Operandi Cabernet
• What's Old Not So New
• Archives

Buccella Cabernet Is Amazing -
Buy the 2004 Buccella Cabernet

I hesitate to write yet another glowing review for a 2004 Cabernet; especially one with a relatively new pedigree. I've tasted so many great 2004 California Cabernets that I'm struggling to remember a time in the past 3 years that I've tasted this many great new wines from one vintage.

The 2004 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon is the second best California wine I have tasted in the past year. Those of you who know me will understand that this is not a minor feat. Robert Parker rated the 2004 Buccella 94 points. I give the 2004 Buccella Cabernet 98 points.

I first wrote about the 2003 Buccella Cabernet in November of 2006 as part of a restaurant review on Fresco by Scotto in Manhattan. The new 2004 vintage just arrived at my home and I took a bottle to dinner at Thyme Square Restaurant in Red Bank New Jersey. The packaging for Buccella was very elegant; a wooden three-pack box with canvas ribbon handles and ties; sealed with a wax monogram. Each bottle was individually wrapped in decorative wax-laded paper and another wax seal on the bottles.

This was my first visit to Thyme Square Restaurant and the final conclusion is that I waited TOO LONG to go there! The food was great and the sauces were especially excellent. Service was spotty but that is par for the course in New Jersey BYOB restaurants. The best BYOB in New Jersey with elegant service is Lorena's in Maplewood but Thyme Square is one of the nicest BYOB restaurants in the area.

Back to the 2004 Buccella - Outstanding. This wine was in balance with great fruit concentration. The four guests at the dinner table ALL agreed that this was a wine to be in a serious collector's cellar. Consensus is often hard to come by but not in the case of the 2004 Buccella Cabernet. So far this year, the 2004 Scarecrow Cabernet and the 2004 Buccella Cabernet are stand-outs amongst the excellent wines from the 2004 California vintage.

The wine was so delicious, that my friend Mauro Casci (shown on the left) was dumbstruck. Mauro is the team captain of the 2005 Rumson Wine tasting Competition's winning team . Mauro loved the wine and of course was quick to call and get on their mailing list. The 2007 competition is quickly approaching and I know one team that is gunning for Team Casci.

Be like Mauro and CALL Buccella Winery and get on their list. There are only a few 3-packs left to sell and if you are lucky you will get some of the 2004 juice.

Mauro Casci Reacts to the 2004 Buccella Cabernet

Brian Pasch -May 1, 2007

Buccella Wines

www.buccellawines.com

Phone: 707-944-1000

Fax: 707-944-1122