RATINGS
Roy Estate: Napa Valley, California
2006 Roy Estate Proprietary Blend
Roy Estate
Napa, North Coast, California, USA
Proprietary Blend (a dry red table wine)
Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate #180 (Dec 2008)
Rating: 94 points
Drink 2015 - 2040
Roy’s biggest production wine is their proprietary blend. The 2006 Proprietary Red is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. It possesses elegant, roasted herb, chocolate, espresso, and black currant aromas, delicious fruit, and a long, muscular, concentrated personality. Obviously built for the long haul, it is approachable, but should hit its peak in 7-8 years, and last for 20-25. This 17-acre Soda Canyon site originally planted by Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer has tight 3 x 6 spacing, and produces two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and an estate proprietary blend. Proprietors Shirley and Charles Roy have demonstrated courage as well as passion in attempting to craft some of the finest wines to emerge from this area of Napa. Winemaker Philippe Melka brings a French savoir-faire to Napa Valley’s gorgeous fruit.
2005 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Roy Estate
Napa, North Coast, California, USA
A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine
Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate #180 (Dec 2008)
Rating: 94 points
Drink 2008 - 2028
The bottled 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot) is even better than the barrel samples tasted last year. Surprisingly soft, but complex, it offers notes of damp earth, black currants, incense, cedar, and spice. Ripe and medium to full-bodied with excellent fruit purity, and charming texture as well as length, it can be consumed now, although its equilibrium and balance suggest it will last for two decades. This 17-acre Soda Canyon site originally planted by Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer has tight 3 x 6 spacing, and produces two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and an estate proprietary blend. Proprietors Shirley and Charles Roy have demonstrated courage as well as passion in attempting to craft some of the finest wines to emerge from this area of Napa. Winemaker Philippe Melka brings a French savoir-faire to Napa Valley’s gorgeous fruit.
2005 Roy Estate Proprietary Blend
Roy Estate
Napa, North Coast, California, USA
Proprietary Blend (a dry red table wine)
Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate #174 (Dec 2007)
Rating: 95 points
Drink 2010 - 2025
This 17-acre vineyard on the eastern side of Napa is owned by Charles and Shirley Roy. Located in what is known as the Soda Canyon area, the vineyard was planted under the direction of Helen Turley, but today's winemaker is Philippe Melka. They have two wines in their cuvee, a Bordeaux blend and, of course, their Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite of the quartet of wines I tasted is the 2005 Proprietary Red, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot. Of course, Soda Canyon is a southern Napa region and cool, much like its neighbor Stags Leap. This wine exhibits very Bordeaux-like notes of black currants, chocolate, underbrush, and some background oak. With beautiful sweet fruit, striking elegance, well-integrated acidity, and a dense ruby/purple color and medium to full body, this will be a long-lived wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.
2004 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Roy Estate
Napa, North Coast, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon (a dry red table wine)
Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate #168 (Dec 2006)
Rating: 94 points
Drink 2006-2021
Cost: $95
The elegant, dark ruby/purple-colored 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) reveals hints of white chocolate, black currants, ripe mountain berries, loamy soil, and earthy characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, with loads of structure and tannin as well as excellent purity, richness, and length, it will benefit from 1-3 years of bottle age, and should drink nicely for 10-15 years.
Charles and Shirley Roy own this 16.5 acre vineyard planted in Napa Valley’s Soda Canyon area. Eight-hundred cases of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (small quantities of Petit Verdot may be added in certain vintages) are typically produced each year