Roy Estate has introduced its 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. Established in 1999, the winery produces single vineyard, estate grown wines from the cooler, southern end of Napa Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains.
The 2018 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the property’s volcanic hillside blocks and is aged 28 months in 100% new Taransaud French oak barrels. Bottled at 15% ABV, it is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot.
The 17-acre setting and a singular microclimate, when combined with the substantial talents of winemaker Philippe Melka, produced a “Grand Cru defined by its terroir,” says the winery. The gentle slopes are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot with a creek dividing the parcel roughly in half, producing two noticeably distinct sites on one small estate “akin to the Right Bank and the Left Bank in Bordeaux,” says Melka. Awarded 95+ points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes elegance and resonant density with aromas of ripe, blue fruits and freshly turned soil.
“The Roy Estate vineyard thrived in 2018 thanks to model conditions extending from bud break to our final picks on the last days of October,” explains Melka. “Our patience during harvest was paired with a deliberately extended period resting the grapes on their skins in the winery. In the winery, we sought to faithfully extract from each flawless cluster every complex nuance painstakingly cultivated over months on the vine. Inky dark in the glass, the concentration of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is undeniable, yet the minerality of our volcanic soils and the presence of mountain herbs, toasted grains and roasted coffee bring engrossing complexity.”
The 2018 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon offers an initial flood of ripe, dark fruit, that giveaway to notes of toasted grains and dried hay. Dark cherry, black plum and blueberry notes cascade decadently from the glass, while wild mountain herbs like thyme, mint and fennel promise freshness. The comforting mid-palate complements warm, lingering tones of roasted coffee beans and baking spices on the finish. Exceptionally focused tannins, a signature of Roy Estate hillside blocks, provide precise structure and the ability to age for the next 15-20 years.
“2018 stands as the most collectible and critically acclaimed Napa Valley vintage of the past decade,” says Crétier. “Making the most of such an ideal growing season, Philippe demonstrated unflappable patience in allowing each step of the winegrowing process to follow its natural course. Now, nearly three years from harvest, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, certainly among the vintage’s finest examples, stands ready for its debut.”
With total production of only 554 cases, the wine will be available in the U.S. with limited allocations beginning this month. It is priced at $265 per 750ml bottle.
For more information, head over to Roy Estate’s official website.