2016 State Lane Vineyard Grand Vin Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
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)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
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!
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is incredibly aromatic, nuanced and layered. Exquisitely elegant and finessed, the 2016 is super-expressive today. Sage, mint, lavender, plum and earthy notes all run through this supremely refined, expressive Cabernet Sauvignon. Translucent and nuanced, with an almost old school sense of feel, the 2016 is positively stellar.
A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc aged in 90% new French oak, 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. Medium-bodied 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. 425 cases produced.