Frank Family Vineyards
Year after year Frank Family Vineyards is one of the great overall lineups of wine that you will taste in the Napa Valley, first founded back in 1992 by Rich and Leslie Frank. Rich Frank is former President of Disney Studios. A world-traveller, Frank knew that Napa Valley was the perfect setting to start a winery. Rich had an incredibly successful career and under his leadership, television and movie properties such as Cheers, Entertainment Tonight, Golden Girls, Ellen, Dead Poet’s Society, Pretty Woman, Aladdin, and The Lion King achieved worldwide acclaim. Rich also is the longest serving President of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmys).
Leslie 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. Prior to Los Angeles, Leslie was the main anchor at KCPQ, the FOX affiliate in Seattle, where she helped launch its 10 pm newscast, taking it to number one in its time slot and receiving an Emmy for Outstanding News Anchor. Rich and Leslie are fully invested in Frank Family Vineyards' as they manage everything from vineyard purchases, to sales and marketing.
For years I have been so impressed by the wines made by winemaker Todd Graff who started with Frank Family back in 2003. He has done an immense job by helping put Napa Chardonnay on the national stage with the wines that he crafts. Do not miss out on his new 2021 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Napa Valley’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with great underlying finesse. The best wine that I tasted was the outrageously good 2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Patriarch’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is dense, chewy and will shine on for decades to come. Learn more about these brilliant new wines at frankfamilyvineyards.com Here are my reviews of the great new wines by Frank Family Vineyards.
2021 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay- The 2021 ‘Carneros’ Chardonnay by Frank Family is a truly outstanding effort by winemaker Todd Graff. Japanese pear, cardamom dusted brioche and suggestions of vanilla creme brûlée all fill the palate, with serious stuffing and underlying minerality. This really fantastic stuff for the price to enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2021 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Frank Family ‘Carneros’ Pinot Noir is a delicious bottling from this new vintage. Sassafras, red currants and shades of dill with baking spices all fill the nose. The palate is soft and refined with silky tannins and marvelous red fruit-driven concentration. This gets better with more air and enjoy now and over the next ten years. this beautiful wine is best enjoyed over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 92
2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Frank Family Vineyards “Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon a plush and soft edition of this wine that shows baking spices, dark plum and cigar box tones on the nose. The palate is very delicious and rich with light tannins that frame a core of black cherry, black raspberry and chocolate flavors. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 92
2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘RHF’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘RHF’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a glorious effort from this great vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon. Immediately alluring on the nose, this takes on layers of Christmas fruitcake with wild blackberry, sweet pipe tobacco and suggestions of chocolate covered coffee bean. The palate is plush with great concentration and a deep core of black fruits that parade with freshly tilled soils, menthol and Turkish coffee notes. Finishing long with minerals and plush black fruits, this is a beautiful wine that shows nice elegance and aging potential. Drink 2023-2038- 94
2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Winston Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The outrageously good 2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Winston Hill’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a splash of Petit Verdot. Once on the mouth this revels in its big bold black fruit tones alongside blueberry compote, mocha and anise notes alongside very refined tannins. Finishing with serious length, this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon is already beautifully evolved stuff that will live on for decades. Drink 2024-2045- 96
2019 Frank Family Vineyards ‘Patriarch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- One of the great wines that I have tasted from Frank Family, the stunning 2019 ‘Patriarch’ was stored for 21 months in 75% new French oak barrels prior bottling. Very soft and approachable on the mouth, with refined tannins, this is silky, elegant and very rich Cabernet that is quite simply a joy to drink. Boysenberry preserves combine with espresso grounds, creme de violette, spice box and shades of black licorice all enter the fray on the palate. Powerful yet quite refined, this beauty will live on for decades to come. Be sure to give this two hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2025-2047- 97