Jump back to the 1980s, when Beringer Vineyards reigned supreme with its celebrated “Private Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon—an iconic proprietary blend built on the exceptional fruit of the famed State Lane Vineyard in Yountville. In 2000, as Beringer streamlined its asset portfolio, they sold the storied vineyard to Hungarian-born Lou Kapcsándy. Driven by an unwavering dream to own a piece of Napa’s legacy, Lou seized this rare opportunity, embarking on an ambitious replanting project to transform the historic property into a modern “First Growth” benchmark that seamlessly marries tradition with cutting-edge innovation.

Fast-forward to the impressive 2018 vintage in Napa Valley—a year with very even, cool weather, no major heat events, and a long, relaxed harvest. Kapcsándy knocked it out of the park in 2018. The standout Grand Vin Cabernet Sauvignon not only captured a perfect 100-point score but also set the stage for its equally impressive and more affordable siblings: the "Rapszodia" Cabernet Franc and "Roberta’s Reserve" Merlot. We selected the Cabernet Franc and Merlot for their sheer polish and elegance. With five years of bottle age, an hour decant will reveal their refined structure and alluring tertiary complexities. These wines have an allure comparable to a sexy, super-charged Saint Emilion, such as a Château Pavie or Ausone.

Press: 98 Points, Wine Advocate: (100% Cabernet Franc)

• "Deep garnet-purple in color, it prances out of the glass with the most gorgeous perfume of redcurrant jelly, black raspberries and fresh black berries with hints of crushed rocks, tilled soil, violets and cinnamon plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with an amazing backbone of freshness supporting all that tightly wound, multilayered fruits, it finishes with epically long mineral and floral layers. Wow-o-wow. 160 cases were made." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Nov. 2020