Napa Valley may be best known for its Cabernet, but Chardonnay has been just as important, even scoring a victory over the best Chardonnays from France in the famous judgment of Paris contest in 1976. The key to successful chardonnay in Napa is proper site selection; Chardonnay does best in the cooler southern areas, including Carneros, as opposed to the warmer, northern part of the valley. Frank Family sources their Chardonnay from cool sites like these, resulting in a balanced, bright wine that doesn’t suffer from the excessive ripeness or oak that plagues so much Napa Chard.
The 2008 Frank Family Napa Chardonnay is pale gold in color, with powerful aromas of lemon, kiwi, and lime, with a hint of toast. The palate is rich with baked pear and apple butter, and lovely acidity to hold these flavors through a long, clean finish. This wine has good presence and poise, allowing it to pair with a variety of foods. It is perfect for stronger fish flavors like swordfish, or with goat cheese or creamy pasta sauces. Stock up on this now, and you will be thanking yourself this summer as you sip a glass on the patio!
Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Date: September 6th - October 1st, 2008
Acid: 0.67 g/100ml TA
PH: 3.65 pH
Barrel Aging:
11 Months
34% New French Oak
33% Once used French Oak
33% Twice used French Oak
Alcohol %: 14.4
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
Inky, plush, and cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
93 Points
Deep red hue and hints of violet teasing the senses with seductive aromas of dark fruits, wild berries, cocoa, baking spices, leather, and cigar box. Filled with saturated flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cassis, cherry cola, ripe plum, chopped mint leaves, while the palate unfolds with rich tannin, juicy acidity, and flavors of cherry gastrique, berry coulis, herb mélange, and licorice.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
91 Points
Shimmering ruby-purple hue. The nose is a walk through a damp Sonoma forest—mossy bark and wild earth—brightened by high-toned notes of cranberry sauce and blood orange. On the palate, it's generously long in the mouth, with good concentration. It's a masterclass in tension: intense, cherry and red current fruit meets dark spice and fine, sandy tannins.
94 Points
Deep red-purple with aromas of black currents, blackberry, plum, chocolate, earthy forest floor, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes of violet, spice and cracked pepper. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry fruit with notes of earth, firm acid and silky tannins. Finishes big with blackberry fruit and peppery spice.
96 Point Vintage
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
