2013 Mixed Case Kapcsándy Family Winery

July 3, 2017

It is unlikely that Lou Kapcsándy could have foreseen the development of his career in cult Californian wine production when he fled Hungary in 1956 during the revolution. Indeed, there was probably nothing further from his mind. Yet, today it is appropriate to speak of the wines from Kapcsándy Family Winery in the same breath as the likes of Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Bond and a small clutch of other producers in California who have been producing wines to rival the very best and most age-worthy in the world. Simon's offer on a 2013 mixed case, below.

A chemical engineer in Seattle by trade, it was a trip to Bordeaux in 1998 that cemented Lou’s burgeoning interest in wine. Initially, Lou and his wife Roberta drew up a plan to import Bordeaux wines into the USA with dreams of retiring to Napa in their later years while their son, Lou Jr, would run the family business. Whether it was fate or luck that intervened, in January 2000 the Kapcsándy’s stumbled upon a renowned 20-acre plot in Yountville (the former Beringer Estate State Lane vineyard, home of the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program) that had been entirely ripped out after Phylloxera destroyed it in 1999. The Kapcsándys invested considerable labour into the land before replanting; by the harvest of 2005, they had completed work on a state-of-the-art winery, and the Kapcsándy Family Winery was well and truly born.

Kapcsándy Family Winery’s short history is littered with some of the biggest names in the Napa wine scene – Helen Turley (Turley, Blankiet and Marcassin wineries) produced the first vintage in 2004; Denis Malbec (previously of Chateau Latour) was winemaker from 2007 until his tragic death in 2016; and today Anthony Arcudi (former protégé of Screaming Eagle and Diamond Creek consultant Heidi Peterson Barrett) runs the show. The four top wines - the Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin, Roberta’s Reserve, Rapszodia and the Estate Cuvée - are produced from different, contiguous parcels within the same vineyard. High-density planting give the appearance in the vineyard of First Growth production rather than what is typical in the Napa Valley and a borderline neurotic approach to quality during harvest sees some five ton per acre of fruit left in the vineyard, with around three and a half tons brought in to vinify. The highest level of attention in the vineyard is only matched by an equally fanatical approach in the cellars. The Kapcsándys say their aim is to 'consistently produce wines of First Growth and Grand Cru quality' and simply put, they succeed. The remarks from Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer below certainly attest to this.

“Once again, Lou Kapcsandy, his son Louis, and their winemaking consultant Denis Malbec, have exploited to great acclaim this wonderful terroir in Yountville, producing an array of world-class wines that merit serious attention from readers.” Robert Parker, October 2015.

“Perfectionist Lou Kapcsandy and his talented winemaker Denis Malbec may be making the most extraordinary wines in California today… The Kapcsandy wines prove that it's possible to make hugely rich, thoroughly ripe Napa Valley wines at manageable levels of alcohol.” Stephen Tanzer, May 2014.

We are very pleased to be able to offer mixed cases of three bottles, direct from this remarkable estate in the outstanding 2013 vintage, containing one bottle each of the Grand Vin, Roberta’s Reserve and the Estate Cuvee, at £995 per case of three bottles in bond. These mixed cases (image included) are unique to Atlas in the UK and will be shipped directly from Kapcsándy Family Winery.

Please see below for Robert Parker’s notes on the three wines.

2013 Mixed Case Kapcsándy Family Winery
£995 per case of three bottle case in bond

2013 Estate Cuvée, Kapcsándy Family Winery

97 Points, Robert Parker
The 2013 Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, spent 20 months in oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. They made 750 cases of it and it is a fabulous wine that is not far from being another perfect example. 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. Drink 2016-2046.

2013 Roberta’s Reserve, Kapcsándy Family Winery

100 Points, Robert Parker
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. Drink 2016-2046.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Grand Vin’, Kapcsándy Family Winery

100 Points, Robert Parker
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. Drink 2020-2050.

Back to Offers

Related news

Buy more Rhône - 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos du Mont Olivet

Buy more Rhône2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos du Mont OlivetThis estate has been crafting fine Châteauneuf for as long as I can remember. Even in the most powerful Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintages they deliver wines with balance and elegance at their core.Simon Larkin, November 20242023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos du Mont Olivet£165 per 6 bottle case in bond2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, La Cuvée du Papet, Clos du Mont Olivet£300 per 6 bottle case in bond We should all buy more Rhône!There, I have said it. I remain a huge fan of Southern Rhône wines, even though demand has perhaps ebbed a little in recent years. I honestly think they offer exceptional value as release pricing has not increased appreciably in the last five years or so. And the quality of the 2023s I tasted this morning was exceptional…..the key to their success was the lack of excesses. These are beautifully-balanced Rhônes, with pure fruit and a more-ish ripeness. The 2023s aren’t as headstrong a vintage as you might expect from the climatic data. That’s all part of the Mont-Olivet magic.The 2023 vintage produced rich, powerful wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the wider Southern Rhône. The skill is achieving balance when you have a rich vintage on your hands. The approach employed by the team at Mont Olivet has delivered impressive results in 2023. They favour blends encompassing the full array of Châteauneuf varieties and have not been lured into producing numerous single parcel wines, instead continuing to recognise the value of a blend from across their terroir. The protracted harvest period in 2023 has benefitted varieties such as Mourvèdre and Counoise without a doubt, and the old vines that the domaine possesses were better placed to navigate the drier periods with their deep root systems. The 2023s come highly recommended.I have said it before, but I am a huge fan of the Mont Olivet style. This estate has been crafting fine Châteauneuf for as long as I can remember. Even in the most powerful Châteauneuf-du-Pape vintages they deliver wines with balance and elegance at their core. This isn’t such an easy feat across some of the region’s terroirs, nor necessarily in recent vintages. It speaks volumes for the vineyards employed in their blends, but also the range of grape varieties grown. Clos du Mont Olivet is one of my favourite estates – it is run by three members of the Sabon family: Thierry, Celine and David.By way of background, Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a plethora of different styles; after all it is a very large appellation. From 2000 onwards, many estates started to experiment by creating micro-cuvées from old plots and employing new oak in an effort to chase reviews, yet all along the team at Mont Olivet stuck to their own style. There is something reassuringly classical at Clos du Mont Olivet. That is not to say that things have not evolved here, but rather that the estate and its wines have not lost their identity or typicity along the way.Today the estate extends over 21 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a further 14 hectares in Lirac, an appellation to the west of Châteauneuf, supplemented by 10 hectares in the Côtes du Rhône and 3 in the Vin de Pays du Gard. Their vines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape are spread across the appellation and include some of the most famous lieux-dits (or named vineyards). But Châteauneuf-du-Pape is ultimately a blend, so the different locations and terroirs contribute to the complexity of the estate’s wines. Additionally, where many Châteauneuf-du-Pape have moved towards Grenache, with Syrah and perhaps Mourvèdre, or maybe even wines made from 100% Grenache, Mont Olivet has a terrific supporting cast comprising a whole host of lesser known yet historical southern Rhône varieties, such as Counoise, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Terret Noir and Picpoul Noir as well as Cinsault. Incorporating all these vines ties in beautifully with their philosophy of being true to their roots and, of course, making complex, age-worthy wines.Harvest time is a tricky period with so many different plots and varietals contributing to varied ripening times. Thierry is very careful with extraction – never wanting to push things too far by extracting too much from the skins; his preference is for elegance and, with fruit as rich as that in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, his approach regularly pays dividends, not least in the recent hot, dry vintages. Each variety is kept separate for the straight Clos du Mont Olivet, allowing them to assemble the blend once they have had the chance to evaluate the fruit from different parcels and varieties. The assembled wine is then aged in either old oak foudres, barrels or in vat. Making great Châteauneuf-du-Pape relies on a whole host of skills and, given the exercise of blending, there is added complexity to the tasks and the resultant wine. The consistency of the wines of Mont Olivet stands testament to the series of decisions taken and never ceases to fascinate me, just as it did on my very first visit to the estate’s cavernous cellars in the heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos du Mont Olivet£165 per 6 bottle case in bondAs soon as you nose this wine, you are sure to be impressed by the volume of fruit, as it shows a rare freshness to the scented, spiced raspberry and garrigue characters. It is hard to think the palate could be any more-ish; layered, with enough acidity to retain balance and direction. The fruit is so expressive, juicy, vibrant with cherry red fruits, raspberry ripple notes, some darker fruits too, as well as notes of provencal herb, black olive tapenade even. It is the juicy, round mouthfeel that really impresses. It would be no cardinal sin to broach this early, but it has the capacity to age. Such an impressively poised wine in the vintage, rendered all the more appealing by a slightly softer acidity. As ever, this is a bargain – count me in. Drink: 2025 – 2033 (SL)2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, La Cuvée du Papet, Clos du Mont Olivet£300 per 6 bottle case in bondA darker, more brooding nature is evident on both nose and palate. The nose suggests dark loganberry fruit, black cherry, kirsch as well as notes of garrigue, yet there is a scented, almost floral overlay. So luxuriant on the palate, fine intensity and richness offset by bright fruit characters, that echo those on the nose, with liquorice and black olive tapenade once more. Certainly, there is more heft here, but it doesn’t come across as overtly heady at all, such is the quality and purity of the fruit. That blue-black fruit quality is certainly moreish once more. On the finish, which is incredibly long and flowing, there is a suggestion of stoney minerals, that adds tautness and tension to this impressive Chateauneuf. This looks set to join the great examples of this cuvée. Drink: 2027 – 2035+ (SL)

Shipping to the USA - made easy

’Your service in organising and shipping my wine from the UK to California was excellent - quick, efficient and stress free’’.Jack K. Through our long-standing partnerships with trusted global shipping companies, Atlas Fine Wines provides comprehensive door-to-door services across the United States. Whether by air or sea freight, we handle all aspects of the shipment process. Recognising that costs and terms differ by state, we offer detailed quotations that outline the costs involved, including insurance. Additionally, we recommend temperature-controlled services for valuable and exceptionally rare fine wines. Our services cater to shipments of all sizes, ensuring a seamless experience for every client. You would also be provided with a link allowing you to track your consignment once it has cleared customs. For more information, or to discuss your requirements in more detail please send an email to: celine.larkin@atlasfinewines.com

Atlas Fine Wines' Simon Larkin MW reviews 12 Saint-Julien 2005 Châteaux

Learn about the wines of one of Bordeaux’s most consistent communes in our latest YouTube video. Join Simon as he shares his insights following an extensive tasting of all 11 Classified Growth Châteaux of Bordeaux’s Saint Julien appellation, plus one outlier. All the wines tasted were from the 2005 vintage – "one of the greatest vintages Bordeaux has ever produced." As Simon suggests, Saint-Julien may lack a First Growth Château but, tasting wines such as Léoville-Las Cases and Ducru-Beaucaillou in such a great vintage, it is hard to argue that they are not of First Growth quality. See below for Simon's tasting notes.