Winemaker Notes
A ‘goldilocks’ vintage. The excellent weather lasted from fruit set through harvest and allowed for maximum hanging time for the grapes. It was a bountiful harvest, but what is quantity without quality?
Thankfully this vintage delivered in that department as well.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Lush and gratifying in feel, this delivers waves of creamy plum, blackberry and boysenberry compote, along with lightly singed vanilla, tobacco and melted black licorice notes. Shows a subtle violet hint that hangs in the background. For fans of the style.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color and notes of blackberry compote, warm cassis and wild blueberries plus suggestions of bay leaves, menthol, unsmoked cigars and tree bark with a touch of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit layers with loads of invigorating herbal accents and a grainy texture, finishing earthy.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The base appellation 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (which includes 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot) is a terrific value, offering loads of blue and black fruits as well as notes of tobacco, candied violets, Asian spices, and sandalwood. Medium to full-bodied, with rock-solid overall balance, ripe yet integrated tannins, and a great finish, this is a classic, well-made Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming 10-12 years.
Since the founding of the winery in 1992, Frank Family Vineyards has poured their passion for land, grape growing and winemaking into each and every bottle of Frank Family Vineyards wine. Today they own over 450 acres of the finest vineyard land checkerboarded throughout the Napa Valley. This allows them to control quality and cultivate sustainably on their own estate and enables winemaker, Todd Graff, to blend perfectly balanced wines. With a commitment to crafting the finest representation of Napa Valley wines, Frank Family Vineyards hopes to create a legacy for generations to come.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.