2006 Kapcsandy Family Winery, State Lane Vineyard Estate Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville 1x750ml

Vinous 91

(48% each cabernet sauvignon and merlot, plus 4% cab franc) Good full, deep ruby. Lovely floral lift to the aromas and flavors of cassis, licorice and violet. Supple and light on its feet-and likely to fill in with more time in bottle. This represents a barrel selection intended to make an earlier-drinking wine. Carrying a moderate 13.5% alcohol. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/05/2009]

Robert Parker 92

The 2006 Estate Cuvee State Lane Vineyard (650 cases) is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. It is an exceptionally 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. P. S. If you are a buyer of the Kapcsandy wines, don’t miss their fabulous 2006 Rose. They made 275 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 Californian 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. (Not yet released) Tel. (707) 948-3100; Fax (707) 948-3106 [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 12/28/2007]

Anticipated maturity: 2007-2022