2012 Roy Estate Proprietary Red

I only tasted one wine, the 2012 Proprietary Red, a brilliant blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot aged 18 months in 80% new Taransaud barrels. This 640-case cuvée exhibits an opaque purple color, full body, supple tannins, and sweet blueberry and blackberry liqueur notes intermixed with hints of chocolate as well as dusty, earthy, forest floor notes. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. It is one of the finest efforts produced by the Roy Estate to date.

(70% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 11% petit verdot): Deep ruby. More minerally and convincing on the nose than the 2011, offering scents of black cherry, crushed rock, licorice and menthol. Sweet, broad and rich, showing a fine-grained texture and a light touch to its dark fruit and hot rock flavors. At once deeper and more energetic than the 2011 bottling, finishes with supple tannins and nice lift.

The 2012 Proprietary Red jumps from the glass with dark raspberries, plums, licorice, mocha and flowers. The purity of fruit and aromatic expressiveness are front and center in this bright, beautifully delineated wine. Today, the tannins are a bit firm, but I don't think that will be an issue once the 2012 is bottled. There is a lot to look forward to here, not the least of which is the wine's intense, deep personality.