Napa Valley Cabernet Producer Releases Highly Allocated Grand Cru
NAPA, CA, August 5, 2021 – 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 yielding layered wines that nod to Bordeaux while showing the rich fruit and power that are the mark of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Roy Estate today introduces its 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. With total production of only 554 cases, the wine will be available in the U.S. with limited allocations beginning this month.
When entrepreneur Stéphan Crétier first came upon the stunning, off-the-beaten path vineyard site of Roy Estate with its commanding position looking to the San Francisco Bay in the distance, he knew it was something special. In awe of the winery’s significant and storied history, Crétier aimed to shepherd Roy Estate into a new era and assumed ownership in mid-2017. Together with wife and partner Stéphany Maillery, Crétier shares a commitment to producing the world’s finest, single vineyard, estate grown wines in partnership with renowned winemaker Philippe Melka.
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 to heighten complexity and deepen aromas. The privileged 17-acre setting and a singular microclimate, when combined with the substantial talents of Melka, produced a Grand Cru defined by its unique terroir. 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,” according to 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.”
TASTING NOTES: 2018 ROY ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
(94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot; 15% ABV, 750ml, $265 SRP; available in three- and six-pack cases)
The 2018 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is an opulent expression of this bountiful and acclaimed vintage. After an initial flood of ripe, dark fruit, the wine intrigues with 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. Evoking golden fields on a warm autumn day, 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.”
For more information, please visit www.royestate.com, or follow @royestate on Instagram. High-resolution images and limited samples will be available upon request.
About Roy Estate
Roy Estate was established in 1999 by Founding Vintners Shirley and Charles Roy and today is overseen by Proprietors Stéphan Crétier and Stéphany Maillery. Located in the southern end of Napa Valley, Roy Estate produces three world-class Grand Crus: the Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the Roy Estate Mr. Evans Proprietary Red and the Roy Estate La Rêveuse. On the eastern side of Napa Valley, in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains, Roy Estate produces highly allocated wines from this tiny valley within a valley, with an annual production below 1,500 cases.
In addition to the recent completion of the Vineyard Studio, which offers intimate wine tasting experiences affording 270-degree views of the surrounding vines, Roy Estate will see the debut of an unparalleled hospitality space, which will be introduced later this year.
