Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

AVA/Appellation: Stags Leap

Vineyard

[Roy Estate] [Vineyard notes]

Established in 1999, Roy Estate produces single vineyard, estate grown wines from the cooler, southern end of Napa Valley, nestled in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains. Recognized for its highly decorated, balanced wines produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordelaise varietals.  

Roy Estate arrived at its current chapter when entrepreneur Stéphan Crétier discovered the wines produced at the estate’s stunning 47-acre site that provides views of the San Francisco Bay. Together with his wife and partner Stéphany Maillery, Crétier assumed ownership of the winery from founder Shirley Roy in mid-2017. Since then, the couple has continued to shepherd the winery in partnership with renowned winemaker Philippe Melka—a mainstay on the team since its first vintage in 2005—to honor Roy Estate’s storied past and its multi-faceted future.

Heritage

Roy Estate was established in 1999 by founding vintners Shirley and Charles Roy. The couple sought to produce world-class wines, working tirelessly to identify the ideal site and engaging Napa Valley’s most respected vineyard and winemaking consultants to plant vines and craft wines fully worthy of the Grands Crus de Napa Valley designation. Today, proprietors Stephany Maillery and Stephan Crétier serve as stewards of the sprawling, singular site. Together they usher in the next chapter of peerless winegrowing at Roy Estate.

Wine Details

Wine Maker: Philippe Melka

Philippe Melka began working at Roy Estate in April 2005.  He is one of the world’s most respected winemakers, who is best known for "finding the voice of the vineyard through its terroir," as Philippe puts it.   He began his career working at wineries in France (Château Haut-Brion and Château Petrus), Italy (Badia a Coltibuono), Australia (Chittering Estate) and California (Dominus and Ridge) before settling in the Napa Valley in the '90s.

“Philippe’s attention to detail is amazing,” explains Shirley Roy, “whether it’s how he ropes off sections of the vineyard to differentiate how and when they’re to be harvested or how he adds his touch with his thorough understanding of the vineyard as well as each step in the winemaking process.”

Named as one of the top nine wine consultants in the world by Robert Parker, Melka said: “my style is to show the site through the wine, to respect the grape as much as I can.  So every single wine I make will be very different, because every one has a unique site.  We should emphasize the estate much more than the winemaker.  You have to minimize the technique as much as you can

Wine Blend Details:

Cabernet Sauvignon (94%)/Petite Verdot(6%)

Vineyard Notes

The 2018 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is an opulent expression of this bountiful and acclaimed vintage. Harvesting until the very last days of October exclusively from our hillside vineyard blocks allowed for the development of exceptionally robust and complex aromatics. Dark cherry, black plum and blueberry notes cascade decadently from the glass, while wild mountain herbs like thyme, mint and fennel promise freshness.

Our patience during harvest was paired with a deliberately extended period resting the grapes on their skins in the winery. The result is a wine of substantial body and powerful resonance. After an initial flood of ripe, dark fruit, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon intrigues with notes of toasted grains and dried hay. Evoking golden fields on a warm autumn day, this comforting mid-palate complements warm, lingering tones of roasted coffee beans and baking spices on the finish. Exceptionally focused tannins, a signature of our hillside blocks, provide precise structure and the ability to age for the next 15-20 years.

Wine Critic Scores

96 points Jeb Dunnuck

Serving/Food Pairings

For optimum enjoyment of this wine, please decant and serve at about 60 °F.

Wine Making Details