91 POINTS - eRobertParker.com
One of the best things about WineHeist is the chance to find smaller producers that we may not be too familiar with, and discover that they are making small quantities of outstanding wine. Such was the case when we were introduced to St. Helena Road Winery, whose 60 acre estate, just across the Sonoma County line from such famous estates as Pride Mountain, produces outstanding Bordeaux varieties at elevations of about 1800 feet. We have already offered their Meritage, and now we are delighted to have the chance to offer their top cuvee, the Roy J. Maier Cabernet Sauvignon. With a small amount of the other Bordeaux varieties blended in, this is as fine an expression of Bordeaux-style wine in California as you are likely to see, at an unbelievable price.
The 2005 Roy J. Maier Cabernet Sauvignon is deep purple in color, with a garnet rim revealing its maturity. The nose is absolutely packed with aromas, showing vanilla, currant, kirsch, anise, capsicum and damp earth. The palate echoes these classic cabernet characteristics, with blackberry, crème de cassis and plum coming together into a seamless flavor experience, for lack of a more graceful term. This wine is exciting in so many ways; for one thing, it is a great example of the fact that you can do Bordeaux in California without trying to copy Bordeaux (this is riper, bigger, and has higher alcohol than you would find in France in all but the hottest vintages), by capturing Bordeaux spirit of allowing the grapes and the terroir to show through in the finished wine. This is a beautiful expression of Mayacamas Mountain Cabernet. And secondly, this wine shows the magic that a little bit of age can work on a wine, bringing the palate into harmony and resulting in flavors that can't necessarily be broken down into their components, yet are still very complex, and linger on the palate for ages. If you are a fan of California Cabernet, this is one that must not be missed.
Vintage: 2005
Varietals: 75-80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot 5% Malbec, 5% Cab Franc, and 1-2% Petit verdot
Bottled: June 13, 2007
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 740 cases
Inky, plush, and cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
