Frank Family Vineyards
2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

"Voted #1" - The Bay Area A-List
Gold Medal - Savor (North of the Gate) - April 2016
Gold Medal - San Diego Wine & Spirits Challenge - May 2016
Gold Medal - Orange County Fair - June 2016
Gold Medal - International Women's Wine Competition - June 2016

Frank Family sources from all over Napa Valley for the grapes for their Zinfandel, and this allows them to make a consistently outstanding bottle of wine each and every year. This family run winery is one of the stars of Napa Valley, yet maintains pricing that makes it a reasonable bottle to open for any occasion.  In the tradition of the great field blend of California, from the likes of Ridge and others, they blend a little bit of Petit Sirah into the blend, which gives the wine extra weight and texture.

Zinfandel is often called “California’s Grape,” and despite the fact that it has been genetically traced to Croatia, it certainly seems to show best all over the Golden State.  Today’s offering comes from Frank Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, a region certainly more well known for its Cabernet. Napa’s climate is also wonderful for growing Zinfandel.  Warm sunny days lead to well ripened Zinfandel grapes that tend to show more of Zin’s jammy side.

The 2013 Fran Family Napa Valley Zinfandel is a deep scarlet hue. On the nose, the wine has a savory quality of pepper, leather, brambly fruit and dried orange rind. This vibrant, medium-bodied Zinfandel has a silky and enveloping mouthfeel, offering abundant notes of red raspberries and dark berries, and a long, layered finish.

Vintage: 2013
Wine Type: Red Wine
Varietal: Zinfandel
Varietal Composition: 84% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet
Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Date: September 19th to October 9th, 2013
Acid: 3.74
Aging: 16 months in 33% new French oak barrels, and 66% once and twice-filled French oak barrels
Bottling Date: March 2014
Acid: 0.552 g/100ml TA
Alcohol %:  14.6

About The Winery...

Take a trip back in time at the Frank Family Vineyards. First constructed as the Larkmead Winery in 1884, the building was refinished with native sandstone from the nearby hills in 1906 and still stands tall today. The massive stone edifice is considered an archetype of California’s wine country; it appears on the National Register of Historical Places and is listed as a Point of Historical Interest in the state of California. Owners Richard Frank and Connie Frank focus their energies on making superb still wines. The winery produces Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sangiovese and several distinctly different Cabernet Sauvignons. The highly regarded Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which is barrel aged for two and one-half years, is emerging as one of the most sought after wines in the valley and their Napa Carneros Vineyards produce some of the finest Chardonnay available. The Sangiovese, a rising star, is created entirely from grapes grown on Rich’s property and the Zinfandel comes from the Pope & Chiles Valley. Once owned by wine legend Hans Kornell, the winery originally secured its reputation with sparkling wines. Five sparkling wines are handcrafted today in the old building: Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, occasionally the Rouge and Reserve. All of these are made in the traditional French methode champenoise style.

Frank Family Vineyards wines are produced in small quantities and currently sold only at the winery and a handful of select restaurants and wine shops. A visit to the winery is not complete without a story-filled tour or at least a walk through the historic building where the thick, stone walls, high-stacked barrels and rich bouquet of aging wines create the utmost in winery ambiance. The winery provides separate tasting areas for sparkling wines and still wines. Just outside, to the south of the building, visitors are welcome to sit under the giant oak trees, relax at the wooden picnic tables and enjoy spectacular vineyard views.

Learn more at www.frankfamilyvineyards.com.

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