Frank Family Vineyards

It might be hard to believe that Frank Family Vineyards has been around for nearly 30 years. As the former President of Disney Studios, Rich Frank traveled extensively across the globe, trying the great wines of the world. Over time he knew that Napa Valley was the perfect setting to start a winery. Leslie Frank also had an incredibly successful career, spending more than 25 years covering news stories, and the last nine years of her TV news career reporting and anchoring at the number-one-rated station, KABC in Los Angeles. Rich and Leslie manage everything from vineyard purchases, to sales and marketing. 

Todd Graff hs been with Frank Family scene 2003 and has totally transformed their lineup over his tenure there. His wines are known for their soft mouthfeel, and refined tannins, making a killer range of wines from Chardonnay to Sangiovese and even Zinfandel.

I loved the new 2018 Frank Family ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which has outstanding finesse and texture. Even better is the gorgeous 2018 Frank Family ‘Patriarch’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is dense and layered with serious aging potential. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/ Here are my tasting notes on the brilliant new wines by Frank Family Vineyards.

2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay by Frank Family is another really good effort by the talented Todd Graff. Pear, brioche and baking spice dusted apple all fill the nose.The palate is silky and plush with a great sense of texture. The mineral undertones and the lengthy finish complete this wine that is right in balance and not overly heavy. Drink 2021-2031- 92

2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard’ Chardonnay by Frank Family Vineyards is clicking all of the right boxes right now. Ripe pear, bananas foster and juicy melon flavors all combine with outstanding acidity and verve. This finishes exceedingly long with vanilla cream. The combination of weight and finesse here is really impressive as this beautiful new 2019 Chardonnay will be exceedingly long lived. Drink 2020-2033- 94

2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Frank Family ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir is forward and juicy with ripe red fruits, orange rind and cigar box tones. Medium bodied and full of tension, this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2021-2029- 91

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Napa Valley’ Zinfandel- Forward and delicious, the 2018 ‘Napa Valley’ Zinfandel reveals ripe plum, guava and red currant flavors with just a kiss of sweetness. Enjoy this beautiful new Zin over the next eight years. Drink 2021-2028- 91

2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Lewis Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-  The 2019 ‘Lewis Reserve’ shows very pretty guava and red cherry aromas combine with shades of white truffle and orange rind on this beautiful bouquet. This top class Pinot Noir shows a rich viscosity with rich red fruits that collide with minerals, wet stone and kumquat flavors. This is drinking beautifully now and has many years to continue to evolve. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard’ is a beautifully textured wine that is drinking great even now at the two year mark. Cran-cherry and cola flavors, as well as kumquat rind collide with minerals and smoky undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2035- 93

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Zinfandel- The 2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Reserve’ Zinfandel is a stunning new release that has poise and richness to age for more than a decade. Intense and loaded with bright red fruits and orange zest flavors, alongside a bright veil of tension, this is beautiful Zinfandel that will evolve gracefully in your cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 93

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 “Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with rich dark fruits on the nose with chocolate and graphite undertones. The palate is fresh and full-bodied with a great veil of tension. Layers of mocha, tar and anise combine with a great core of dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2021-2033- 92

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Rutherford Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘Rutherford Reserve’ is highly elegant and refined with firm tannins that hold in a great core of huckleberry, smoke, black raspberry cordial and tar tones with menthol undertones. Full-bodied and rich with a great acid backbone this has another twenty years left. Drink 2021-2038- 94

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘RHF’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2018 ‘RHF’ Cabernet Sauvignon is deeply concentrated with velvety tannins that line the core of loamy soils, pipe tobacco, black cherry pie and mocha tones. Full-bodied and delicious now, this will surely provide drinking enjoyment fort another fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 94

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Winston Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The sinfully good 2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Winston Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a splash of Petit Verdot. Tobacco leaf and sandy loam tones combine with shades of black currant jelly, Turkish coffee and exotic spices all impress on the palate. The wine shows beautiful length even so young, as this will deliver drinking enjoyment for many decades to come. Drink 2022-2045- 96

2018 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Patriarch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A sensational new bottling, the 2018 Frank Family vineyards ‘Patriarch’ spent 21 months in 75% new French oak barrels before bottling. Once on the mouth, this shows off its silky texture, making this glide across the drinking experience. While obviously quite a big wine, this has good balance in terms of intense fruit and non-fruit flavors, with generous oak and firm tannins holding everything together beautifully. Anise, creme de cassis, Turkish coffee and sandalwood tones all sing in unison on the palate. Gorgeous now to enjoy in its powerful youth, this has at least another twenty years in front of it. Drink 2023-2045- 97