This dark and polished Cabernet is drinking impressively right now, with a ripeness and creaminess that remind me of the glory days of Realm’s Bard wines (maybe from 2012 to 2014). The Buoncristiani doesn’t have the same depth or class, but it has a similarly round mouthfeel and ripe profile. In other words, this is a whole lot of fruity and chocolatey goodness, with enough structure to make it work.
Inky red in color, full in body, nose of blackberry, graphite, and charcoal. Integrated tastes of blueberry pie, boysenberry, milk chocolate, and cedar, with a sweet, almost syrupy finish. Blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. 15% alcohol. Give this at least an hour of air. I’d err towards drinking now, since the wine doesn’t have a lot of acidity or grip, but even in - or perhaps because of - their absence, it’s awfully charming now. Still going strong on the second day.
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$65-100-ish Napa Cabs, and some other stuff (Home): Similar to previous notes. By itself, this is a fine wine. However, comparatively with the others, this fell behind the leaders in the pack. Toward the middle/rear in terms of overall performance. One of the simpler and lighter bodied of the wines (which was still a solid medium-bodied wine).
Holding for another year may allow for some deepening of flavors, but it’ll never have the drive and concentration of some of the others in the competition. QPR is “meh.” Hold until after 2020.
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Previous notes apply. Not giving off too much until hour two. Needed air for sure. Decant if choosing to open now. Otherwise, wait another year or two minimally. 92-94+ points at the moment.
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Same as previous notes. On PnP, it was a little tight, with some restrained black cherry notes dominating. But after about two hours of air, it blossomed. Deep, dark chocolate, black raspberry, ripe black cherry, vanilla bean, some spice, and black and red licorice flavors emerged. This is indeed a find in the $100 category. "The Core" version (at least the 2013 I've recently had) is certainly more concentrated and elevated, but this delivers quite nicely. 94+ points with upside in a year.
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Wine Thief (Napa): My first experience with this producer, and this did not disappoint at all. Beautiful blue/black core fruit, dark red raspberry, ripe black cherry, bitter chocolate, and a hint of cedar. The acid and grip creep up just at the right time to harness all of the wonderful fruit rushing over the palate on the attack.
A 2014 Purlieu was served alongside it. The Buoncristiani had all of the appeal as the Purlieu fruit and flavor-wise, but the Buoncristiani had the much needed frame and grip that the Purlieu was lacking. The complexity of the Buoncristiani was also more elevated. A pretty impressive wine worthy of consideration. I'm a fan. 94-95+? points. Good to drink now, with possibly some slight upside in another year. Not a 20 year wine, but it definitely has enough of a solid foundation to push it forward in its development over the next 5-7 years.
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Made of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. Decanted for a couple hours and did improve with time but was drinking nicely with exposed complexity straight from the bottle. However acid is present and tannins stick on the finish (not obtrusive). Creamy palate of backberry liqueur, cassis, vanilla bean, and black cherry. The sweet core is backed by cooling minerals on the close. Not sure this is a 30 year wine but definitely it will be better in 10.
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3/21/2024 - Dooms wrote:
Dinner W/Amy & Aaron. Fillet’s.
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8/13/2022 - srilko4 Likes this wine:
Excellent
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9/3/2018 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
This dark and polished Cabernet is drinking impressively right now, with a ripeness and creaminess that remind me of the glory days of Realm’s Bard wines (maybe from 2012 to 2014). The Buoncristiani doesn’t have the same depth or class, but it has a similarly round mouthfeel and ripe profile. In other words, this is a whole lot of fruity and chocolatey goodness, with enough structure to make it work.
Inky red in color, full in body, nose of blackberry, graphite, and charcoal. Integrated tastes of blueberry pie, boysenberry, milk chocolate, and cedar, with a sweet, almost syrupy finish. Blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. 15% alcohol. Give this at least an hour of air. I’d err towards drinking now, since the wine doesn’t have a lot of acidity or grip, but even in - or perhaps because of - their absence, it’s awfully charming now. Still going strong on the second day.
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6/16/2018 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
$65-100-ish Napa Cabs, and some other stuff (Home): Similar to previous notes. By itself, this is a fine wine. However, comparatively with the others, this fell behind the leaders in the pack. Toward the middle/rear in terms of overall performance. One of the simpler and lighter bodied of the wines (which was still a solid medium-bodied wine).
Holding for another year may allow for some deepening of flavors, but it’ll never have the drive and concentration of some of the others in the competition. QPR is “meh.” Hold until after 2020.
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2/24/2018 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Previous notes apply. Not giving off too much until hour two. Needed air for sure. Decant if choosing to open now. Otherwise, wait another year or two minimally. 92-94+ points at the moment.
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1/1/2018 - 90twinturbo Likes this wine: 86 Points
Very good. Get some more
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11/22/2017 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same as previous notes. On PnP, it was a little tight, with some restrained black cherry notes dominating. But after about two hours of air, it blossomed. Deep, dark chocolate, black raspberry, ripe black cherry, vanilla bean, some spice, and black and red licorice flavors emerged. This is indeed a find in the $100 category. "The Core" version (at least the 2013 I've recently had) is certainly more concentrated and elevated, but this delivers quite nicely. 94+ points with upside in a year.
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9/30/2017 - csimm wrote: 95 Points
Wine Thief (Napa): My first experience with this producer, and this did not disappoint at all. Beautiful blue/black core fruit, dark red raspberry, ripe black cherry, bitter chocolate, and a hint of cedar. The acid and grip creep up just at the right time to harness all of the wonderful fruit rushing over the palate on the attack.
A 2014 Purlieu was served alongside it. The Buoncristiani had all of the appeal as the Purlieu fruit and flavor-wise, but the Buoncristiani had the much needed frame and grip that the Purlieu was lacking. The complexity of the Buoncristiani was also more elevated. A pretty impressive wine worthy of consideration. I'm a fan. 94-95+? points. Good to drink now, with possibly some slight upside in another year. Not a 20 year wine, but it definitely has enough of a solid foundation to push it forward in its development over the next 5-7 years.
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5/19/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 96 Points
Made of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec. Decanted for a couple hours and did improve with time but was drinking nicely with exposed complexity straight from the bottle. However acid is present and tannins stick on the finish (not obtrusive). Creamy palate of backberry liqueur, cassis, vanilla bean, and black cherry. The sweet core is backed by cooling minerals on the close. Not sure this is a 30 year wine but definitely it will be better in 10.
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