Started the morning visiting at the suggestion of a friend the Kapcsandy Family Winery.
I'm very happy to say that I could not believe what followed. We were greated by Lou Kapcsandy himself for a tour and tasting.
I can say I have never been to a winery that is as meticulous about cleanliness and the quality of their wines as Lou is about his.
This winery was cleaner than my house; you could eat off the floor. As we toured the barrell room there were employees there cleaning the barrels so no bacteria of any sort could even start to breed. There is no expense spared with cleanliness or with the quality control of this winery; I still cannot believe how clean this place was. Did I say how clean this place was?
On to the wines. We tasted thru pretty much their entire lineup plus the Kapcsandy family also has an import company and Lou was gracious enough to pour some Tokaji from his homeland of Hungary.
06 Roberta's Reserve - I cannot really add much to all the tasting notes on this wine except to say WOW! This wine competes with the likes of Petrus. Beatiful chocolate covered black cherries, mocha, huge smooth tannins. It was a bit closed due to it's age but this is going to be an incredible wine! Run don't walk to get this one if you can and put it in the cellar and wait ten years.
05 Estate Cuvee - Very nice floral nose; I'd actually say a very pretty wine. Those chocolate covered black cherries made their appearance again as well as a light toasty oak with black licorice and nice earthy notes. These wines seem to be built much more a Bordeaux than a California wine. Just overall a beautiful smooth well balanced wine.
06 Estate Cuvee - Very similiar to the 05 but a tad more fruit and little less earth.
These are the Kapcsandy wines that really jumped out at me although there was not a bad wine in the bunch. This is definately a wine to keep your eyes on. After witnessing first hand the selection process for the grapes as well as the dedication to cleanliness and quality I'd expect big things out of this winery.
On a side note the Grof Degenfeld Tokaji Furmint as well as Muscat Lunel Lou was so kind to open were both unbelievable values at the price points. I could not help but pick up several of these.
Realm
I was only able to taste thru 3 bottlings of the 2007 Realm lineup
2007 Falstaff - Their newest wine is a small production Cabernet Franc that was just an absolute tannic mess at this point. I could hardly get thru the taste they poured. Very young but not my cup of tea
2007 Tempest - Very closed down at this point. All I got was a very dark core of fruit with overwhelming muscle at this point. Very tannic, if this has enough fruit to outlast the tannins it could be special.
2007 The Bard - My favorite of the group; this was the most approachable of these wines at this point. I'm sensing that the 07 Realm wines are going to need A LOT of time before hitting their stride. I did not get to try any of their top bottlings of Cabernet as it sounds like they are keeping them pretty close to the vest as they know they have something very special.
Alpha Omega
07 Sauvignon Blanc - Bright acidity very tropical with nice citrus, melon and a nice minerality to it. A touch green on the finish. A nice drinker on a hot day but for $30+ dollars there are plenty of other Sauv Blanc's.
06 Cabernet - Slightly sweet red fruits with a nice layer of undelrying cedar and spice. Somewhat abrupt finish with a little heat. This just needs to come together; a nice Napa Cab; nothing special.
06 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red - A little more earthy than the cabernet but very similiar flavor profile, this just needs to come together as its still a baby.
Finally their show stoppers.
06 & 07 Era. Tasted the 06 out of bottle and the 07 out of Barrel. The 06 had very ripe rich blackberry, raspberry nice acidity with a silky smooth finish.
the 07 out of Barrel.. WOW this is going to be a showstopper in my book, I LOVED this wine. It just jumped off of every taste bud in my mouth dancing from one to the next. Sweet blackberry, raspberry very dense, tons going on here much more fruit than the 06. Very long finish, it just kept lingering with a very soft finish. This is going to be a fantastic wine and my favorite of the whole trip to Napa.
Dinner Day 2 - Bottega
The wood fired octopus salad was incredible to start.
My wife and I split the Risotto special which was a little heavy handed on the salt but very good as well as the short ribs which were melt in your mouth delicious.
Wine list was very affordable a was the food. We preferred this over Redd.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: T Dub,
Posts: 260 | Location: Arizona | Registered: Aug 07, 2008
Thanks for the notes, and that was a very perceptive write up on Kapcsandy. I've been on the Kapcsandy mailing list since the first release, and I've visited their winery 3 times and experienced the exact same thing you reported. They do make outstanding wines at Kapcsandy! The WA rates the 2007 Robert's Reserve 96-100 points, and I thought the 2006 was 98/99 points. I'm looking forward to their 2007 Release!
Thanks for the notes, and that was a very perceptive write up on Kapcsandy. I've been on the Kapcsandy mailing list since the first release, and I've visited their winery 3 times and experienced the exact same thing you reported. They do make outstanding wines at Kapcsandy! The WA rates the 2007 Robert's Reserve 96-100 points, and I thought the 2006 was 98/99 points. I'm looking forward to their 2007 Release!
Thanks again for the report.
Lou did pour one of his 07 wines. It's a new wine for them called their Overture #1. Lou stated they made this wine with the grapes they were selling off to a private label in the past but the quality was so high that he was ok with putting his own name on the bottle this vintage. If this I guess I'll call it their 3rd wine is any indication of their 07's then they are going to be fantastic.
Posts: 260 | Location: Arizona | Registered: Aug 07, 2008
It's great to hear people that have a great experience at Kapcsandy, because I've had two great ones myself. The '05 Estate Cuvee is really coming into it's own. It's hard to keep my hands off of the bottle I have. I can't wait to see what Lou's wines are like in ten plus years.
------------------------------ "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22
Posts: 1728 | Location: Illinois | Registered: Jun 29, 2005
I am glad to hear you visited AO Winery and tasted their wines which are excellent. Despite that, I think they are a bit pricey, don you think?
I had the great fortune to find the '04 cabernet at less than $20 a bottle around March this year. To be honest, I did not know much about this wine, but after trying my only AO '04 Cab on April 2nd, I was amazed at its quality, and run the next day to the same store to buy their existence. Unfortunately, they only had two bottles left, which I bought and I still have on my cellar.
Thanks for sharing!
Posts: 2 | Location: Flushing, NY | Registered: Oct 10, 2009
Originally posted by RATER: I am glad to hear you visited AO Winery and tasted their wines which are excellent. Despite that, I think they are a bit pricey, don you think?
I had the great fortune to find the '04 cabernet at less than $20 a bottle around March this year. To be honest, I did not know much about this wine, but after trying my only AO '04 Cab on April 2nd, I was amazed at its quality, and run the next day to the same store to buy their existence. Unfortunately, they only had two bottles left, which I bought and I still have on my cellar.
Thanks for sharing!
I agree with this. AO is the only club to which I currently belong and their wines are a bit pricey. That said, I think they are fabulous. I am very excited about the 08 Petite Syrah that I barrel sampled as well as the 07 Era. Their 06 cabs were very very solid and their Late Harvest SB/Semillion is just happiness in a bottle.
Grand Cru Imports(Kapcsandy) is a wonderful source for prestine Bordeaux. Just one phone call to Louis(son) and I can usually find what I need.
Too bad you didn't get to try the full Realm line-up. The 2007 Cabs were great in the barrel, especially liked the ToKalon and Dr. Crane. However, they are in a bit of bottle shock currently which is probably why Juan didn't pour them. The wines were bottled in July, and according to Juan, it's the first vintage where they are experiencing bottle shock.
Originally posted by Powell Yang: Grand Cru Imports(Kapcsandy) is a wonderful source for prestine Bordeaux. Just one phone call to Louis(son) and I can usually find what I need.
Too bad you didn't get to try the full Realm line-up. The 2007 Cabs were great in the barrel, especially liked the ToKalon and Dr. Crane. However, they are in a bit of bottle shock currently which is probably why Juan didn't pour them. The wines were bottled in July, and according to Juan, it's the first vintage where they are experiencing bottle shock.
I've tried all the past vintages of the Realm Cabs and have loved them all but what they poured me this past trip must have been in bottle shock because they were over tannic beasts that showed very little else.
With that being said I'll still buy whatever ToKalon and Dr. Crane they offer me and let them lie for a while. I don't think I'm too tempted to try any of their blends or Cab Franc again anytime soon however.
Posts: 260 | Location: Arizona | Registered: Aug 07, 2008
Originally posted by RATER: I am glad to hear you visited AO Winery and tasted their wines which are excellent. Despite that, I think they are a bit pricey, don you think?
I had the great fortune to find the '04 cabernet at less than $20 a bottle around March this year. To be honest, I did not know much about this wine, but after trying my only AO '04 Cab on April 2nd, I was amazed at its quality, and run the next day to the same store to buy their existence. Unfortunately, they only had two bottles left, which I bought and I still have on my cellar.
Thanks for sharing!
I think Jean and Henrik began making the wine there for the 2006 vintage...so things (including prices) changed...
______________________________________ I'm throwin' rocks tonight. Mark it, Dude.
Posts: 2495 | Location: San Luis Obispo, CA | Registered: Mar 21, 2007
Tdub - what made you stop by Alpha Omega? I'm curious as I really don't know anything about them, but in the last couple of months, I've met two different owners (limited partners) of the winery.
"When I drink, I think; and when I think, I drink." Francois Rabelais
www.tanglenet.com
TN posted on Cellartracker
Posts: 3052 | Location: Oakland, CA | Registered: May 21, 2002
Tdub - what made you stop by Alpha Omega? I'm curious as I really don't know anything about them, but in the last couple of months, I've met two different owners (limited partners) of the winery.
At a couple of friends recommendations from that other board.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: T Dub,
Posts: 260 | Location: Arizona | Registered: Aug 07, 2008
Originally posted by tanglenet: Tdub - what made you stop by Alpha Omega? I'm curious as I really don't know anything about them, but in the last couple of months, I've met two different owners (limited partners) of the winery.
When AO first bought the property, they also took over some existing inventory including ready made juice in barrel. Unfortunately they made the wrong decision (which the owners admitted to as much)on slapping AO label on the inventory took over and release a few terrible wines as their inaugural release.
Fortunately their owners realized the mistake and invested money and people to make a wine worthy of their name. It's good to see they are heading in the right direction with bright future ahead.
Fortunately their owners realized the mistake and invested money and people to make a wine worthy of their name. It's good to see they are heading in the right direction with bright future ahead.
Powell,
I think they should've have started with an entirely new name! IMO, Alpha Omega is a poor name for a wine; Life/Death??? Anyway, if the wine in the barrel was substandard, and they invested enough money to make premium wine, then they should work on a premium name, and that's not Alpha Omega!
Fortunately their owners realized the mistake and invested money and people to make a wine worthy of their name. It's good to see they are heading in the right direction with bright future ahead.
Powell,
I think they should've have started with an entirely new name! IMO, Alpha Omega is a poor name for a wine; Life/Death??? Anyway, if the wine in the barrel was substandard, and they invested enough money to make premium wine, then they should work on a premium name, and that's not Alpha Omega!
Please forgive, I just couldn't resist those one-liners! Seriously though, perhaps the name would work, I really don't know, but I wouldn't choose it, and it had better have outstanding juice in the bottle! Besides, any knowledgeable wino is not going to buy packaging, perhaps maybe once or twice, at most.
I think it's best to read a reputable professional wine critics review, then decided if you even want to try the wine. The name "Alpha Omega", beginning/end, life/death, shouldn't really matter; if the juice is outstanding, they will come.
