Napa Valley: Frank Family Vineyards
For our second wine tasting venture in Napa Valley, we traveled to Calistoga for a reserve tasting at Frank Family Vineyards. At one of the wine clubs, we had a Frank Family cab, and we loved it so we decided to research Frank Family as one of our stops.
When we drove up and down Highway 29 to check out all the little towns and wineries, we avoided the big wineries right on the highway. Too many people, too commercial — altogether just too much, in general. We got the feeling those places catered more to larger groups and people who think rosé and white zinfandel are the same thing.
Frank Family Vineyards is a historic spot, hidden down a country road with giant shade trees and a smaller setting — much more to our liking.
This pinot + chardonnay rosé blend had a rose-gold color; if there is one thing I love about rosés, it’s the spectrum of pinks you get to Ooh and Ahh over. With just a hint of grapefruit this bubbly had an ultra-fine effervescence, which means that the bubbles are denser, manifesting in a single-column of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass (which we had not seen before!)
2014 Lewis Vineyard Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir
Bright red in color with a pink edge, this pinot had good structure with raspberry-cranberry flavors, a touch of oak — resonates on lips with a bit of heat on the finish.
** 2013 Lewis Vineyard Reserve Carneros Chardonnay **
This chardonnay was our favorite of the day. Pale gold color with an apple nose. Creamy without being heavy — soft meets crisp!
2013 Chiles Valley Reserve Zinfandel
Dark ruby in color with smooth medium fruit flavors like cranberry and plum. Oaked with a black peppery spiciness giving the wine a tingly resonance. The rep asked us: “Are you zin it to win it?” As always, Ms. K is so zin it.
2013 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Purple in color with dark fruit flavors, especially blueberry. In fact, we thought the nose smelled just like a blueberry-vanilla scented candle. Not a spicy cab, just full and dark.
Check out the first in this Napa Valley Wine series: Trinitas Wine Tasting
