2007 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

There are usually 300-350 cases of the Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon along with the 2007 Proprietary Red are the finest wines I have yet tasted from Roy Estate. A beautiful nose of charcoal, creme de cassis, black currants, licorice and underbrush is followed by a deep, full-bodied, powerful wine with lots of texture, silky tannins and impressive density, as well as length. This wine has enough tannin to suggest 3-4 years of cellaring is required. It should age well for 25+ years. When I met with proprietor Shirley Roy I was saddened to learn that her husband, Charles, had passed away this year. Together they had dreamed of producing world class wines from their 17-acre vineyard in the southern part of Napa Valley known as Soda Canyon. Shirley is committed to continuing that dream, and I wish her all the best. She’s in good hands given the fact that their vineyard was planted by Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, and the wine is now being made by the well-known French consultant, Philippe Melka. If readers have not yet checked out the Roy offerings from this rocky, cool climate site at the base of Atlas Peak, I highly suggest they do so. Tel. (707) 255-4409; Fax (707) 255-4472

Good full ruby. At once riper and cooler on the nose, offering blueberry, menthol, fresh herbs and a whiff of pepper. Then a bit more lush in the mouth than the 2006 but not at all sweet, offering subtle flavors of cassis, celery seed, tobacco and licorice. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and a violet lift. These wines are aged for 24 months in all new Taransaud barrels, and typically carry alcohol in the low 14s.