2002 Buehler

[winoweenie]

Seems that the trend in Calif today is to chase the latest, greatest, unproven winemaker and to build the pedestal as large as possible and pay whatever rediculous price he/she puts on his/her juice. This makes one forget the Chappellets, Heitzs, Silverados, and certainly the Buehlers who have set standards for price, quality or P/Q since their inception. I've had the pleasure of being a friend of John Buehler since his first vintage in 1978. (He produced 49 cases of cabernet that became a cult item, I found out every retailor he'd sold, called all of them and managed to get 17 bottles. I probably put 5-700 miles on my car picking them up.) ((Paid 8.49 per and my fondest memory was trading one of them in 1981 straight up for a 1970 Lafite.)) He and his family have over 150 acres just above Donn Chappellets'. Back to the juice. Deep brite ruby. Floral, bing cherry, and sweet spices hit the nose and go to the palate along with some pencil shavings. Great mouthfeel on entry, solid center and a 4+ lapper finish. Needs another 2-4 to resolve sweet tannins. 90/96. 22 by the box. 14.2% alc. WW