Frias Family Vineyard Lady of the Dead 2016
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Winemaker Notes
This Cabernet-heavy blend is a serious step up from the debut release in intensity and quality. We start with a bouquet of red fruits, cinnamon and spice. The wine then coats the palate with notes of lush burgundy plums and blackberries. Concluding with balancing sweet tannins, this Lady is ready to be taken seriously.
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 10% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Red Blend Lady of the Dead is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 10% Merlot. It has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and nose of lifted black cherries, blackberries and cassis with hints of menthol, dark chocolate and star anise. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with loads of spicy sparks, it has a plush texture and great length.
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Hidden among the wooded hills northwest of the central Napa Valley town of St. Helena, Frias Family Vineyard is a small hand-tended property with variable terrain, from terraces to steep hillsides. The Spring Mountain appellation lies on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma Valley. Parent material for the soils are derived from weathered volcanic and sedimentary rock, and those shallow red soils are scattered with rocky debris that allow good drainage and limit the vine growth and yield. Such diversity requires careful hand work, and the vineyard is divided into multiple small plots. Yet they all contribute to the complexity o fthe wines grown on the estate.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.