2005 Kapcsandy Family Winery Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard

A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table Wine from Napa, North Coast, CA USA

Review by Robert Parker
The Wine Advocate, # 174 (December 2007)
Rating: 94
Drink 2007-2022
Cost $105

The 2005 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard is a 750-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc aged 20 months in new French oak. It exhibitis incredible refinement, dark, medium to full-bodied flavors (earth, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, truffles and cedar), beautiful ripeness and purity, and a long, silky finish with no hard edges. Approachable now, it will last 15 or more years. It is reminiscent of one of my favorite Bordeaux wines, Haut-Brion.

P.S. If you are a buyer of the Kapcsandy wines, don't miss their fabulous 2006 Rose. They made 274 cases, which are being sold only at the winery. It is one of the finest roses I have tasted over the last several years. What a great success story Kapcsandy Family Winery is. I first met Lou Kapcsandy when he was the owner of a construction company in Seattle. A Hungarian immigrant (he fled the country during the 1956 revolution), he gave up his business to follow the grapevine - so to speak - with his son, Louis, and wife Bobbi. The family moved to Napa, purchased Beringer's old State Lane Vineyard (often a component part of that winery's Private Reserve bottling), completely replanted it, and brought in well-known Bordelais Denis Malbec to work with California Rob Lawson to craft undeniable Bordeaux-styled blends of elegance and longevity. The rate at which they have achieved success is shocking. From their tightly spaced vineyard (2,700 vines per acre), new state-of-the-art winery, and Draconian selection process, they are producing three outstanding cuvees. Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer first gave them advice on planting the vineyard, but they moved on, and the vineyard now seems to be producing fruit at a level of quality never before seen from this site on the Yountville Crossroad.

2006 Kapcsandy Family Winery Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard

A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table Wine from Napa, North Coast, CA USA

Review by Robert Parker
The Wine Advocate, # 174 (December 2007)
Rating: 91-93
Drink 2007-2022

The 2006 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard (650 cases) is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. It is a exceptional elegant, pretty wine that does not have the power and depth of the 2005. However, it exhibits beautiful finesse, and a style reminiscent of a clone from a second or third growth Bordeaux. Velvety tannin as well as sweet red currant, black currant, cedar, menthol, and spice box characteristics are found in this beauty. It will be drinkable upon release, and should keep for 12-15 years.

Review by Robert Parker
- The Wine Advocate