2016 Kapcsándy "Grand Vin - State Lane Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2016 Grand Vin is a an absolutely sensational release from Kapcsándy and is amongst the most impressive wines from the entire vintage. Composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, this delivers on every level. It starts to seduce with gorgeous aromatics of fresh crushed blackberries, dark currants and even hints of blueberries laced with fresh florals, spices, tobacco and graphite all coming together beautifully in the glass. On the palate this possesses a medium-plus to full body, showing a wonderful combination of power and elegance. It continues to impress with its incredible overall concentration and focus, as well as outstanding structure, with beautifully polished tannins and a deep core of remarkably pure dark fruits that resonate through the long, mouth coating finish. The Grand Vin is as good as it gets, and while it is already nothing short of stunning, it also displays the character to age for decades to come. A simply brilliant job by the Kapcsándy’s and consulting winemaker Tony Acrudi with his first vintage at the estate. (JD)” (04/2019)

“A perfect wine and a legend in the making, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin from the Kapcsandy family is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc (no Merlot, which is rare for this cuvée) that was brought up in 90% new barrels. Reminding me of a great vintage of Château Latour with its straight-up awesome bouquet of blackcurrants, lead pencil, crushed rocks, tobacco, and graphite, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional, layered, seamless texture, perfect balance, and building structure. Made in an incredibly classic style, with one foot in Bordeaux with its elegance and class and another firmly in Napa with its layered richness, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure yet will be a 40- to 50-year wine. Hats off to this estate for such an incredible wine!” (01/2019)

“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored with a lovely crème de cassis core backed-up by the most amazing perfume of lilacs, oolong tea, camphor and dark chocolate plus gentle wafts of aniseed and red currants. Mediumbodied with fantastic vibrancy and intensity, the palate practically rings with spine-tingling energy. It slowly builds in the mouth to reveal layers of red and black fruits supported by a very finely grained frame and seamless freshness, leading to a drop dead gorgeous, perfumed lift on the long finish. Sex in a glass. (LPB)” (10/2018)

“Bright, full ruby. A brooding black hole of a nose, hinting at black fruits, licorice, lavender, menthol and bitter chocolate; conveys a strong impression of medicinal reserve. Bigger, richer and deeper than the Roberta's Reserve but ultimately silky and seamless, conveying uncommon sweetness and an extract-rich mouthfeel. This, too, is utterly unevolved, even youthfully unformed today, but it should evolve in bottle for decades. Finishes extremely tactile and long, with a repeating note of chocolate and lingering subtle sweetness. (14.2% alcohol; aged in 90% new French, 5% new Hungarian and 5% second-fill French oak) (ST) 97+” (06/2019)