2006 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Good deep ruby-red. Black plum, coffee, mocha and exotic underbrush on the nose, complemented by toasty oak. Suave, firm and distinctive, with Graves-like flavors of plum, redcurrant, hot rocks, gravel, Cuban cigar tobacco (Montecristo #2?) and fresh herbs. Not thick or supersweet; in fact, there's a delicacy about this wine. Helen Turley planted this vineyard and made the 2004. Current winemaker Philippe Melka describes this Soda Canyon site (south of Stags Leap) as "a less extreme, more temperate climate, and an area where the climate has less of an impact on the vintage." Finishes with firm, slightly drying tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From a cool terroir, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot) reveals notions of bay leaf, chocolate, creamy oak, earth, and red fruits along with soft tannins and medium to full body. It should drink well for 15+ years. 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. Production is slightly over 2,500 cases in an abundant vintage, and winemaker Philippe Melka brings a French savoir-faire to Napa Valley’s gorgeous fruit. Tel. (707) 255-4409; Fax (707) 255-4472
Good full medium ruby. Cool aromas of licorice, mocha and tobacco leaf. Evolving quite slowly, showing slightly medicinal flavors of cassis, dark chocolate and menthol. There's good stuffing here but the wine is not yet displaying its personality. Finishes with slightly tough, mounting tannins. Clearly a wine from a cooler site.