Since my days of shopping and enjoying my local wine shop and club, The Fine Wine Source in Livonia, Michigan, I think that Roger Louer and his wines have had the most visits and tastings. Roger Louer was holding court at The Fine Wine Source talking about his wines and his winery, as well as regaling the customers.  I would describe him as a “Gentleman Farmer.”

We started the tasting with Roberts + Rogers Reserve Chardonnay Carneros Napa Valley 2024, and in the past, I have also written about his basic Chardonnay that is sourced from Sonoma.  A great introduction to the winery is this that has aged for almost six months.  According to Roger there was very little oak, the majority was aged in Stainless Steel and then the two juices were blended and then finally bottled.  It was a stellar example of a California Chardonnay, that would probably fool people in a blind taste test.  This light-golden colored wine offered notes of grapefruit, citrus and white florals.  On the palate this medium-to-full bodied, well-balanced wine displayed tones of rich citrus fruits, blending with bright acidity and ending with a crisp and a soft buttery finish of citrus, floral and subtle terroir.   I have to admit that we have started many a dinner party with a Roberts + Rogers Chardonnay at home.

Then we tried a wine that is exclusive to The Fine Wine Source of Livonia, Michigan.  We had the Roberts + Rogers Red Wine Blend “Cuvée Jimmy & Remy” Napa Valley NV.  This is their third release of this special wine and exclusive to The Fine Wine Source.  This winery was started by two friends in 2000, and the first label of Roberts + Rogers was 2009.  This is a special blending of multiple vintages, with oldest dating back to 2013, blended with six other vintages.  This wine is pure Cabernet Sauvignon featuring fruit from St. Helena and three separate Howell Mountain sources.  This Cuvée is ready to be enjoyed immediately.  A rich deep dark ruby wine that offered notes of black cherry, currants, blackberry and plum followed by chocolate and cocoa, tobacco and cedar.  On the palate this full-bodied, well-balance wine displayed multiple layers of fruit and textures, a big fruit-forward wine with an intense ending of a long-count finish of fruit, spices and terroir. 

The Roberts + Rogers Louer Family Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena) Napa Valley 2022.   Since this wine has been produced, it has been rated in the Nineties, by the big boys.  This is all estate grapes from his thirty acres in St. Helena, pure Cabernet Sauvignon and bottled in all new French Oak fifty-nine-gallon barrels for two years of aging.  This deep garnet colored wine offered notes of dark fruits and vanilla.  On the palate this full-bodied, well-balanced wine displayed tones of black cherries, blackberries and black currents, with traces of oak/vanilla and velvety tannins right from the get-go, and a nice solid finish with terroir, to finish the package.  I would have no problems drinking this wine immediately or being patient and allow it to cellar for at least ten years to really have an awesome wine, and this is probably one of the best values in the valley.