Antonio Galloni – December 2017

The 2016 Furmint has really fleshed out over the last six months. Melon and floral notes, along with a hint of tropical fruit and soft contours, give the wine much of its immediacy and sheer appeal. Drink this pretty, gracious white over the next year or two.

 Antonio Galloni, Vinous – December 2016

 The 2015 Furmint is a pretty, mid-weight white to drink now and over the next few years. Lime, mint and aromatic white flowers give the 2015 Furmint its distinctive personality. The flavors are bright, delineated and vibrant throughout. The 2015 was done entirely in steel, with blocked malolactic fermentation.

Jeb Dunnuck, December 2017

The 2015 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard is the Margaux of the lineup with its perfumed floral, spice-box, black cherry and currant-driven aromas and flavors. It has an understated elegance, full-bodied richness, a beautiful sweetness of fruit, and a supple, sexy texture that makes it already impossible to resist. Showing a kiss of oak on the finish, give bottle 3-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2017

A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cuvée has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of fresh black currants, cherries and mulberries with touches of Provence herbs, lavender, wild blueberries, anise and cedar chest. Medium-bodied, finely crafted, very elegant and fresh, the palate offers vivacious red and black fruits with a savory undercurrent and supple texture, finishing on a spicy note.

Antonio Galloni - December 2012

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cuvee covers every inch of the palate with layers of dark, mineral-infused fruit, crushed rocks, violets and tar. The 2010 doesn’t have any of the early accessibility or pure sensuality of the 2009, instead it is a big, structured wine that calls for cellaring. I don’t see the 2010 giving much pleasure before age ten. Readers who can wait will be rewarded with a spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040.

Antonio Gallon, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2012

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cuvée is pure, seamless and totally beautiful. Hints of chocolate, cloves and gingerbread appear on the nose, followed by rich, deep layers of fruit. There is a baritone-like expression in the 2009 that is striking. Sweet floral notes appear later, adding lift, vibrancy and freshness. In other words, all the elements are perfectly in balance. This is a gorgeous 2009.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

From a vintage loved by the estate (they consider 2015 more California in style and 2014 more Bordeaux-like), the 2014 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard is another beautiful wine from Kapcsandy. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot brought up in 80% new French oak, it offers an elegant, seamless style as well as classic Cabernet note of blackcurrants, spice-box, dried earth-like minerality and background oak. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and a beautiful sweetness to its fruit, enjoy this beauty anytime over the coming 20 years.

James Suckling - May 2017

Very fresh aromas of violets, stones and sweet tobacco follow through to a medium body, fine and integrated tannins and a beautiful finish. Undertones of walnuts. A super 2014. Elegant yet structured. Drink or hold.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

The 2014 Estate Cuvée is vibrant, intense and beautifully delineated. Super-expressive aromatics and finessed tannins give the 2014 its exceptional balance. Tasted next to the 2013, the 2014 feels like it has more freshness, brighter acidity and a bit more energy as well, which may be partly attributable to the slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and a touch less new oak as well. That is of course splitting hairs, as both wines are superb, but I find the energy, tension and vibrancy here absolutely compelling.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - October 2015

The 2013 Estate Cuvée is dark, powerful and explosive, but also super-refined. Floral and spice notes appear first, followed by a host of balsamic-inflected overtones. Beams of tannin and acidity give the wine much of its energy, but the Estate Cuvée is, above all else, a wine of exquisite purity and finesse. I will not be surprised to see the 2013 show even better in another few years. With time in the glass, the 2013 fleshes out a touch, but the best is yet to come. The blend is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Robert Parker, Jr.  – October 2016

A classic, almost Médoc-like blend offers up notes of forest floor, blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, a touch of barrique, a saturated purple color, and, once past the gorgeous aromatics, a wine of phenomenal intensity, spectacular texture, length and overall balance. Look for it to evolve for 30 or more years. 

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2015

The 2012 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard, which is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot aged in a combination of mostly new French oak, but some Hungarian oak as well, represents 1,190 cases, or 50% of the production from their estate vineyard. This wine shows beautiful floral notes along with hints of earth, chocolate, espresso, licorice and blackcurrants. It is elegant, medium to full-bodied, with impressive purity, texture and length. The wine shows relatively sweet tannin, but then so do most of the top 2012s. It should drink nicely for 15-20 more years. 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

The 2011 Estate Cuvee is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Sweet tobacco, wild flowers, mint, licorice, fennel and mint all meld together in a perfumed, gracious wine graced with stunning elegance and refinement. The 2011 is less obvious than either the 2010 or 2012, but it is more fragrant and perfumed. Clean, saline notes support the striking finish. The blend is 56% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2009

The 2007 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard (a 750-case blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) boasts an inky/plum/purple color as well as a complex bouquet of melted licorice, chocolate, creme de cassis, mocha, and sweet forest floor aromas. Full-bodied and layered with exquisite purity, texture, and length, this large-scaled offering reveals a supple texture along with 20-25 years of drinkability. It is a seductive yet extraordinarily complex wine that should prove to be a future super-star.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2009

The 2006 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard (a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc) possesses a dark plum/purple color as well as notes of roasted coffee, cocoa, chocolate, black currants, sweet cherries, and subtle oak. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, layered, intense, pure, and long, it is approachable now, but promises to drink well for two decades or more.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2017

Produced from 100% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Rapszodia has a very deep garnet-purple color and nose of kirsch, cassis, blueberry tart and dark chocolate with hints of violets, pencil shavings, beef drippings and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, incredibly elegant and yet with super-intense red and black fruits, it has a firm structure of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and minerally.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

First made in the 2010, yet the first time it’s been 100% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Rapszodia has a true “Wow” nose of ripe currant and cassis fruit intermixed with loads of spring flowers, damp earth, and a Graves-like damp earth/gravely minerality. With full-bodied richness, a gorgeous, layered texture, ultra-fine tannin, and a great finish, it’s going to sing for 20-25+ years.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

The 2014 Rapszodia, Kapcsándy's Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend, is once again utterly compelling. Cabernet Franc aromatics soar from the glass as this majestic, stunningly beautiful wine shows off its pedigree. Vivid, nuanced and finely sculpted, the 2014 hits all the right notes as the flavors and textures build into the huge, enveloping finish. This is the most impressive showing yet from the 2014. Here, too, interplay of richness and energy makes for a captivating wine.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

The 2014 Rapszodia is the Saint-Emilion based cuvee of the estate (their reference is Ausone). Its deep purple color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of black cherries, currants, lead pencil shavings, spring flowers and a distinct minerality. As seamless, elegant and layered as they come, with fine, fine tannin, this full-bodied beauty will drink nicely for 15-20 years.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2017

The 2014 Rapszodia has a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully spicy nose of cloves, vanilla and cinnamon stick over a core of red and black currants, black cherries and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of baking spice flavors complementing the ripe, expressive red and black berry flavors, it has a very fine-grained texture and plenty of freshness, finishing long.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2016

Another Cheval Blanc-like blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot is the 2013 Rapszodia Proprietary Red, which has mind-blowing aromatics of blueberries, white flowers, raspberries and foresty notes in a fragrant, compelling scent of explosive perfume. Deep, concentrated, multidimensional, yet vibrant and super-concentrated, this is another tour de force, although only 150 cases were made of this superstar that finished at 13.8% natural alcohol. Drink it over the next 25-35 years.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

Kapcsándy's 2013 Rapszodia is simply tremendous. Dark, powerful and structured, the 2013 possesses huge depth backed by a vertical spine of tannin that give the wine its shape and energy. Layers of intense dark fruit, cloves, new leather and menthol soar out of the glass. Gravel and scorched earth notes add gravitas. Today, the 2013 Rapszodia is even better than it was last year, and also gives every impression it has room to grow. In a word: magnificent!

A great effort and a showcase for Cabernet Franc is the 2012 Rapszodia. This is a blend of 90% Cabernet Franc from the heavy clay soils of their vineyard blended with 10% Merlot aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months and bottled without filtration. A stunning nose of acacia flowers, blueberry liqueur and blackberry is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine that’s amazingly intense, rich and concentrated, but surprisingly light on its feet weight-wise. The wine is full-bodied, but stunningly ethereal and sublime. This is a stunner, and a great example of what Cabernet Franc can do from a terrific terroir, great winemaking and élevage. Sadly, only 175 cases were produced. Look for this wine to continue to drink well for up to two decades.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - October 2015

The 2012 Rapszodia speaks to finesse above all else. In this vintage, the Cabernet Franc is the highest ever (90%), which gives the wine much of its aromatic freshness, nuance and delineation. Sublime and finely-knit in the glass, the 2012 is a strikingly beautiful wine from the team at Kapcsándy. The blend is 90% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot.

Sweet tobacco, herbs, mint, licorice, new leather, smoke and incense are some of the many notes that flesh out in the 2011 Rapszodia. The 2011 is built in pure elegance and finesse. It doesn’t have the exuberance or power of the 2010, but in exchange the 2011 will be ready to drink much sooner. The silky, gracious finish leaves a lasting impression. In 2011, Rapszodia is 62% Cabernet Franc and 38% Merlot.

-- Antonio Galloni

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

The 2010 Rapszodia, a new Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend is spectacular. Warm, rich resonant and expressive, the 2010 emerges from the glass with exquisite aromatics, beautifully delineated fruit and stunning overall balance. All the elements are in the right place. Today, the 2010 Rapszodia is towering and utterly majestic from the very first taste. It is also one of the very best wines I have ever tasted at Kapcsandy. Firm tannins support and explosive finish layered with espresso, mocha, grilled herbs and smoke. I had previously tasted some of the component lots, but now that the blend is assembled and bottled, all I can say is that this is a superb wine. In a word: dazzling!

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2013

A new entry in 2010 was the limited production Rapszodia, an equal part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Is this the Cheval Blanc of Yountville? Aged in a combination of new French and Hungarian oak, it tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, but there are only 135 cases produced. An awesome effort, it offers copious notes of peppery, spicy black currants and cherries intermixed with licorice, bay leaf and oak. This full-bodied, provocative, awesome wine will need some time to settle down, but it possesses incredible length and richness. Forget it for 5-7 years and drink it over the following two to three decades.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2017

Made from 100% Merlot, the 2015 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve has a deep garnet-purple color and gorgeous nose of black plums, warm blueberries and mocha with touches of anise, red roses and spice box. Medium to full-bodied and densely packed with layers of blue and black fruits and perfumed notions, it has a firm yet plush backbone to support and a very long, layered finish.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

The 2015 Merlot Roberta's Reserve is a textbook expression of Merlot and it has a pretty, yet sexy style to go with lots of blue fruits, violets, leafy herbs and graphite aromas and flavors. Like all the 2015s from this estate, it has sensational purity of fruit, is impeccably balanced, and has ultra-fine tannin. Drink this terrific 2015 anytime over the coming two decades.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - March 2018

The 2015 Roberta's Reserve offers serious density and pure power. Silky tannins add to an impression of plushness in this flamboyant Merlot. Blackberry jam, licorice, dark cherry, chocolate and sweet spices lead into the racy finish. This is a decidedly extroverted version of the Roberta's. In 2015, the Roberta's is 100% Merlot, whereas most vintages made to date have included some blenders.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

The 2014 Roberta's Reserve comes across as quite soft and sensual in this vintage, with less of the drive that is such a signature of the other wines here. This is the only 2014 at Kapcsándy that has not grown meaningfully since I last tasted it. Then again, Merlot is a quirky grape, as it often goes through unpredictable periods of being closed, especially in the early going. Today, my impression is that the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring, but it has less structure than some of the surrounding vintages as well as the other 2014s. This is an especially laid back, almost translucent wine from Kapcsándy. It will be interesting to see what the future brings. 

James Suckling - May 2017

Love this merlot. Violets, roses, incense, and currants come to the fore on the nose. Full body and ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and integrated they become seamless and incredibly beautiful. Long and flavorful finish. Drink or hold. Long life ahead but who can wait?

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2017

The 2014 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve, composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of warm plums, baked blackberries and blueberry pie with suggestions of spice cake, violets and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, rich, opulent and seductive in the mouth, it has mouth-filling black and blue fruit with oodles of exotic spices, framed by velvety tannins and great freshness, finishing long.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

Made from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the deep ruby/purple-colored 2014 Merlot Roberta's Reserve is another terrific Merlot, and my money is on it being the best example of this variety in the Valley. Blackberries, dried herbs, earth, and loads of chocolate give way to a full-bodied, opulent 2014 that has silky tannin, incredible purity and a great, great finish. It too will keep for 15-20 years.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

A magnificent towering wine, the 2013 Roberta's Reserve is deep, powerful and massively tannic. Far from an easygoing Merlot, the 2013 Roberta's Reserve is going to require considerable cellaring to fully blossom. Floral, savory and mineral notes are pushed forward, until a rush of blue and black fruits opens up on the mid palate and through to the finish. Lavender, sage, menthol, licorice and inky fruit add the final shades of nuance in an explosive Merlot to put away in the darkest corner of the cellar.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2016

At 100% Merlot, the 2013 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve is off the charts and could easily eclipse a great vintage of Pétrus in a blind tasting. Fabulous notes of sweet cocoa and chocolate intermixed with black cherry and blackberry soar from the glass of this full-bodied wine that has a deep, rich, profound core of fruit and density. It is a great example of possibly the finest vintage Napa has ever produced for Bordeaux varieties. This wine has greatness all over it, with a minute-plus finish, yet is accessible enough to be drinkable now or cellared for another 30+ years.

James Suckling - September 2016

The aromas to this are mind-blowing. Pure violets, lilacs, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and flowers. Full body and superb tannin tension with polish and balance. Harmony. The layers and texture to this are phenomenal. The greatest American merlot ever made. Ranks among the best in the world. Only about 300 cases made.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2014

The 2012 Roberta’s Reserve (100% Merlot aged 20 months in 100% new French oak). It is a bigger wine with 14.5% alcohol. It comes from a block of 10-year-old vines planted in heavy clay soils. Stunning aromatics include notes of mocha, chocolate fudge, black cherries and berry fruit intertwine with hints of incense, burning embers and charcoal. This full-bodied, opulent, lavishly rich, voluptuously textured Merlot is about as great as Napa Merlot can be. Enjoy it over the next 15-20 years.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - October 2015

The 2012 Roberta's Reserve (Merlot) is another drop-dead gorgeous wine from Kapcsándy. Mocha, black cherries, plums, licorice and menthol meld together in an effortless, seamless wine endowed with sublime grace and class. Lovely savory and mineral notes support the pliant finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

Amazingly, the 2011 Roberta's Reserve may turn out to be better than the 2010. Today it is certainly much more polished, finessed and persistent than the bombastic 2010. Sweet herbs, wild flowers, mint and new leather are all layered together on the finish. The 2011 is all about purity, finesse and balance. What a gorgeous wine this is. The 2011 is 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2012

Whereas the 2009 is round and seamless the 2010 Roberta’s Reserve is a huge, vertical wine endowed with stunning depth and richness. Violets, tar, graphite and sweet spices jump from the glass in this powerful, structured wine. Brisk saline notes give the finish its sense of energy and tension. This is a dazzling effort. The 2010 is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040.

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous - May 2013

Good medium ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, blueberry, minerals and licorice. Wonderfully intense but youthfully imploded on the palate, offering electric flavors of black fruits, cocoa powder, bitter chocolate and minerals. Utterly seamless considering that it's so backward today. Finishes with noble tannins, great class and energy and endless lingering perfume. This gained steadily in complexity during the 45 minutes or so I was able to follow it, but its steely structure suggests it will evolve gracefully for two or three decades. It's perhaps the single greatest merlot-based wine I have ever tasted from California. (Winemaker Denis Malbec, who literally grew up at Chateau Latour, also makes the great merlot-based Rive Droite bottling at Blankiet, which means that he is responsible for California's two greatest merlots, in the opinion of this taster.)

–Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2012

Kapcsandy’s 2009 Roberta’s Reserve is one of the most polished and refined wines of the vintage by a mile. A core of insistent minerality layered with sweet floral notes form the backbone as this delineated, vibrant wine continues to open up beautifully in the glass. The 2009 Roberta’s is all about finesse. The overall sensation is one of total seamlessness and silkiness. At the same time, there is more than enough tension and sheer power for the 2009 to drink beautifully for years. The 2009 Roberta’s is 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2034.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2013

The 2009 Roberta’s Reserve (14.2% alcohol), a luxury Merlot-based wine, is composed of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It possesses copious amounts of melted chocolate, fudge, espresso roast, black cherry, plum and Asian spice characteristics that hit the palate with a full-bodied crescendo, wonderful opulence and a juicy, succulent, voluptuous texture. This beauty is hard to resist. Unfortunately, they only made 260 cases, or 8% of the total production.

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2010

The 2008 Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard (96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc) is virtually perfect. This offering is just as strong as the 2007, but slightly more forward and irresistible than the backward 2007. It boasts a dense inky/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cocoa, forest floor, graphite and subtle hints of smoke as well as camphor. The wine reveals fresh acids, laser-like precision and an extraordinary plump, fleshy mouthfeel. Already approachable, it should evolve for 20-25+ years.

Stephen Tanzer, 2008 Vintage Retrospective - May 2018

Medium red. More red than black fruits on the nose, complicated by spices, flowers, underbrush and a hint of maple syrup. Marvelously sweet, plush and layered but not an outsized wine; in fact, this brilliant Merlot is most noteworthy for its inner-mouth lift, minerality and firm acidity. Finishes gripping but not a bit hard, with suave tannins and inexorable palate-staining length. Already very appealing (but decant it if you plan on opening a bottle now) but has the spine for at least another 15 years of further development. Boasts uncanny depth and breadth for a wine from vines that were seven years old. 

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2009

Nearly as extraordinary, and a wine that may turn out to be pure perfection in a few years is the 2007 Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard. Composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc (only 100 cases produced), this dense purple-hued Merlot offers up an exotic nose of mocha, cocoa, orange blossoms, cassis, and cherries. Its elegance combined with tremendous substance, power, and richness is exhilarating. This compelling wine possesses an extraordinary deep mid-palate as well as aromatic fireworks. It can be drunk now, but it promises to be even better in 4-5 years, and last for three decades.

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous - May 2017

Medium ruby. Aromas of crushed blackberry and blueberry show a slightly liqueur-like quality. Then remarkably suave, energetic and light on its feet; more open-knit than the Grand Vin Cabernet yet still with outstanding detail and definition. The small Cabernet Franc component adds a hint of floral lift to the middle palate. Very sappy but utterly edge-free. Substantial, rather powerful tannins emerge late and saturate the mouth and teeth. This extremely long wine still needs time to fully harmonize.

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2008

I was blown away by the 2006 Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard, which was even better from bottle than it was from barrel. Sadly, there are only 250 cases of this amazing Merlot-based effort (94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc). Prodigious aromas of melted chocolate, licorice, espresso roast, black cherries, black currants, and underlying floral and forest floor scents are followed by a sensationally concentrated, opulent, rich wine. This amazing Napa Valley tour de force makes a strong argument, particularly when tasted alongside the 2005 and 2007, that there is no better Merlot-based wine being made in California. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.

Robert Parker, Jr. - June 2015

The Merlot-dominated cuvée (91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc), the 2005 Proprietary Roberta’s Reserve, remains and was – even 10 years ago – a tiny cuvée of only 240 cases, with the Merlot coming from a vein of heavy clay on their vineyard. An inky purple color offers up notes of white chocolate, mocha, espresso roast, blackcurrants and black cherries. Full-bodied and opulent, it is a beautifully, lush, succulent, generously endowed wine that can be drunk now as well as over the next 12-15 years.

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous - May 2016

Dark red. Dark berries, licorice, minerals, chocolate, iron and flowers on the almost exotic nose. Thick, silky and seamless, offering highly concentrated flavors of blackberry, spices and flowers. This plush wine has buns of steel. Finishes with big but utterly suave tannins and outstanding building length. This amazing California Merlot boasts terrific inner-mouth energy and lift.

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is pure perfection and undeniably one of the greatest wines in this terrific vintage. With a Château Latour like stature and depth, full-bodied richness, and incredible notes of blue fruits, crushed violets, tobacco, forest floor, and huge minerality, this tight, backward, concentrated 2015 is for those with patience and cold cellar, but it’s a legendary wine in the making. Bravo!

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Parker’s Wine Advocate - December 2017

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard sports a deep purple-black color and has a classic nose of crushed black currants, black plums and cedar with hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, underbrush, smoked meats and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has youthful exuberance with tight-knit, muscular black fruits and spicy suggestions framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing with great length and depth. Should age incredibly!

Jeb Dunnuck - December 2017

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is one of the gems in the vintage. I continue to find a Latour-like quality in this cuvee and the 2014 boasts a deep purple color, killer notes of lead pencil, charcoal, scorched earth, crushed rocks, and loads of dark fruits. Medium to full-bodied, elegant yet concentrated, impeccably balanced and with a big finish, hide bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 2+ decades. This cuvee is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot that was brought up in plenty of new oak, and there are roughly 700 cases produced.

James Suckling - May 2017

Extremely floral and complex on the nose with cedar, blackberries, blueberries, tobacco, stones, mushrooms... I'm simply running out of words here! Full to medium body and a tight and compact center palate. This is complete and dense. Extremely long and energetic. Drink in five years but a joy to taste. One of the best ever.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

A powerful, tightly-wound wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is likely to require the better part of the next decade to come into its own. The most backward and brooding of these wines, the Grand Vin is also quite primary and closed in on itself. Still, the energy, drive and focus of the best vintages is very much in evidence. Today, the 2014 is dense, seamless and utterly impeccable, with no hard edges, beautifully integrated oak (100% new) and exceptional balance.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin opens with the most captivating, exquisite aromatics imaginable. A wine of arresting allure and total sensuality, the 2013 simply has it all. Today, the 2013 is a mere infant, but its personality, pedigree and overall class simply can't be denied. An exotic mélange of lavender, violet, sage, mint and wild flowers are laced into the finish.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2016

Little can be added to the greatness of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine (600 cases) is truly stunning in its dense, crème de cassis and blackberry-scented nose with a hint of barbecue smoke and forest floor. Tasting like a ripe vintage of Château Latour from Pauillac, the wine has amazing richness and a savory, expansive mouthfeel, but tiptoes across the palate like a ballerina. A wine of magnificent richness and intensity, but vibrancy, purity and overall equilibrium, this is a staggeringly great wine and another tribute to the Kapcsándy family’s extraordinary professionalism and meticulous attention to detail in their vineyard.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2015

The perfect 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot aged 20 months in 100% new French oak. I think this is the third perfect score I’ve given to this wine, which is the essence of their vineyard, representing about 13% of the total production, or a mere 320 cases. The wine has a gorgeously opaque purple color and a beautiful nose of camphor, charcoal, blackberry and creme de cassis with licorice and truffle. It has unbelievable richness, great texture, tremendous finesse, precision and delineation. Very intense, full-bodied and super-pure, the length of the wine must be at least 50+ seconds. This is a gorgeous wine and one of the great superstars of this fabulous vintage. Drink it over the next 25-30 years. 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - October 2015

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is a real stunner. Despite an overall impression of femininity and understatement, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is simply dazzling. Sweet, floral and open-knit, the 2012 is nevertheless holding quite a bit back in potential. When I visited Kapcsándy during the 2012 harvest the enthusiasm was very high. This wine shows why. The blend is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

As great as the 2010 is, the 2011 isn’t too far behind. Silky, gracious tannins form the backbone in a refined, beautifully balanced Grand Vin long on class. Sweet, perfumed and utterly impeccable throughout, the 2011 is a Grand Vin simply superb. With time in the glass, the 2011 fleshes out beautifully, showing remarkable depth for the year. The 2011 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. The higher percentage of Merlot is typical of a lot of blends in 2011.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is stunning. Dark black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, menthol, tobacco and new leather wrap around the palate as this majestic, breathtaking wine shows off its personality, class and pure pedigree. Powerful yet elegant, delicate yet intense, the 2010 is firing on all cylinders today. Layers of fruit build to a crescendo of pure pleasure. Readers lucky enough to own the 2010 will want to cellar this beauty for at last a few years. In the meantime, though, it will be pretty impossible to resist. The blend is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.

Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2012

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin opens with the most beguiling bouquet imaginable. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon and licorice all make an appearance as this vivid, beautifully delineated wine opens up in the glass. A model of total finesse and elegance, the 2009 wraps around the palate with what feels like endless layers of aromas and flavors. This totally seamless, polished Cabernet Sauvignon is virtually impossible to resist today, but it will be even better in another few years. The 2009 is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2039.

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2010

Another perfect wine (identical to the 2007) is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (430 cases produced), this is an exquisite wine of great precision and profound concentration and complexity. It possesses an inky/purple color in addition to an ethereal nose of cassis, chocolate, burning embers, espresso and forest floor. Sweet tannins, a multidimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied power and good structure as well as freshness make for a prodigious example of wine that will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring, but will keep for 25-30 years. This is an awesome effort, particularly after what the Kapcsandy family achieved in 2007.

Stephen Tanzer, "Vintage Retrospective: The 2008 Napa Valley Cabernets"

Featured on Vinous.com - May 2018

Deep ruby-red. Blacker on the nose than the Roberta's Reserve, offering aromas of cassis, blackberry, plum jam, licorice, bitter chocolate and graphite minerality. Much more clenched too and developing at a snail's pace, displaying outstanding depth and a restrained opulence to its flavors of dark fruits, licorice and minerals. The serious tannins arrive late, then build steadily and gain in sweetness. This wine, too, was made from seven-year-old vines.

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2009

Absolutely riveting, and even better than I predicted last year is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. Made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and the rest tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (400 cases produced), in two weeks of tastings, this wine stood out as one of those singular efforts that it is impossible to get out of your mind and off of your palate. A flawless, seamless, profound example of Napa Cabernet, it exhibits an opaque purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of lead pencil shavings, cedar, creme de cassis, ink, flowers, and espresso roast. With phenomenal depth, a multidimensional personality, unbelievable length, and an impeccable integration of all its component parts, this stunning wine lasts and lasts, with a finish approaching a full minute. Give this profound wine 3-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 25-30 years.

Robert Parker, Jr. - December 2009

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is a 650-case blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. A candidate for “wine of the vintage,” it boasts an extraordinary perfume of lead pencil shavings, plums, licorice, black currants, and white chocolate as well as a firm, Bordeaux-like structure, good purity, and incredibly sweet fruit. It will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and last for 20-25 years. Those consumers who complain about high alcohol in California Cabernets should realize that this offering possesses less than 14% alcohol.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - December 2016

Kapcsándy Port-inspired 2013 Vino del Sol is mid-weight, gracious and super-expressive, with plenty of spice, chocolate, leather, cedar and dark stone fruits. Nuanced and silky, the 2013 is a tasty wine to enjoy at the end of a meal.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - October 2015

The 2012 Vino del Sol is fabulous. Cloves, new leather, dried figs, kirsch and dried cherries are some of the signatures. Ample, silky and wonderfully expressive, the 2012 exudes balance and class. Even with all of its intensity and sweetness, the 2012 finishes with notable freshness. The 2012 is one of the most intriguing Vino del Sols I have tasted. Bottled in 500ml.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2014

The 2011 Vino del Sol... achieved 18.1% natural alcohol, and is moderately sweet with 7.2 grams of residual sugar per liter. There are only 500 ml bottles of this sensational fortified, port look-alike. The wine is pure with plenty of chocolate, barbecue smoke and blackcurrant liqueur characteristics as well as just enough sweetness to give it a roundness and juiciness without tasting cloying.  This fortified red should drink well for 20+ years.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous - November 2013

The 2010 Vino del Sol is a little bit more floral, lifted and savory than some recent vintages. Leather, spice, tobacco, crushed flowers, mint and orange peel meld together in an attractive, medium-bodied dessert wine to drink over the next few years.

Robert Parker, Jr. - October 2013

 The 2009 is an amazing wine made from 96% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot fortified with grape brandy and finishing at 17.4% alcohol with 7 grams per liter of residual sugar. It has loads of kirsch and blueberry notes, but it is clearly an after dinner drink rather than a dry red table wine. 

Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - December 2011

The 2008 Vino del Sol is a pretty, textured dessert wine laced with red cherries, spices, new leather, roasted coffee beans and licorice.