2016 Kapcsandy Roberta's Reserve State Lane California Red

2016 Kapcsandy Roberta's Reserve State Lane

99 JD

Featured Review

Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 100% Merlot 2016 Roberta's Reserve, which was harvested at the end of September and spent 20 months in 70% new barrels. I finished my note on this wine with "Best Merlot in the New World," and I can't think of another wine that comes close to the layered, balanced, majestic style of this beauty. Offering up a kaleidoscope of black cherries, damp earth, chocolate, cedarwood, and spring flowers, it's full-bodied and rich, yet just glides over the palate with a seamless, elegant, pure style that needs to be tasted to be believed. As with all the Kapcsandy wines, it has the purity and balance to offer pleasure in its youth yet is going to evolve beautifully. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JD

The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard (100% Merlot) has a totally seductive nose of Indian spices, fruitcake and sandalwood over a core of preserved plums, dried mandarin peel, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with a touch of cedar chest. The palate is medium to full-bodied with gorgeous plush tannins and balancing freshness supporting the boldly spicy black fruit preserves, finishing very long.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RP

Bright, deep ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, bitter chocolate, spices, violet and lilac are complicated by a saline quality. Wonderfully dense, sappy wine; very pure and intense, showing an almost aggressively youthful quality to its berry, dark cherry and spice flavors. Highly concentrated but a bit unforthcoming today. This wine already displays lovely integration of acidity and tannins yet today it comes across as a bit spiky compared to the Grand Vin, perhaps because it possesses a bit less density. Finishes with an intriguing note of dark chocolate and outstanding rising length. I would expect this wine to eventually merit an even higher rating. (14.6% alcohol; aged in French oak, 70% new)

Vinous Media | 95+ VM

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Appellation	Yountville
Climat/Vineyard	State Lane Vineyard
Cru	Reserve