Recent Frazier Press
Kim Frazier-Caterino is interviewed on WICN Public Radio. Hear her interview with Al Vuona on "The Public Eye" June, 2010
Hear Kim & Adam interviewed on Life Between the Vines
Life Between the Vines podcast April, 2010
Next Generation Winemaker, Kirk Venge, joins Frazier as new head winemaker
Read Release September, 2008
Kirk Venge:
The further rising
of a rising superstar winemaker
What People Are Saying About Frazier
"Since last Nov. 1, I’ve tasted some really marvelous Merlots, but I have to say that of my 10 top ranked, 8 came from Napa Valley or its various subappellations. They included Merlots from...Frazier. Napa Valley remains the quality standard in Merlot, as it does in Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends".
From Steve Heimoff's Blog, "The 'Sideways' effect on Merlot is officially dead", March, 2012
"Merlot. It remains America's best-selling red table wine, and there are some fabulous Merlots out there. My favorites this past year...(include)...Frazier".
Editorial from Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast, November, 2008
"Consistently spot-on Cabs and Merlot from 10-acre family estate vineyard are dense yet racy; more subtlety than Napa norm; results are generally surefire winners. An up-and-coming winery worth watching".
From Anthony Dias Blue's Pocket Guide to Wine 2006
2010 MEMENTO
89+ Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
"A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Memento’s color is less opaque compared to the basic Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits toasty oak, vanillin, a broad, rich, fleshy mouthfeel, and a structured finish....it is...a serious wine. Forget it for 3-4 years and drink it over the following 15 years." - Issue #209
2010 FRAZIER CABERNET
91 Points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
The inky/ruby/purple-tinged 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a big, bold, exuberant, chocolaty, blackberry, gamy, meaty bouquet, lots of concentration and richness, sweet tannins and a full-bodied, substantial mouthfeel. This is a mouth-coating, teeth-staining, impressively endowed Cabernet with no hard edges. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years." - Issue #209 2009 MEMENTO
94 Points, Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Memento is even more impressive than the straight bottling. Hints of mocha, espresso and cinnamon lead to a rich, expressive core of dark red and black fruit. The 2009 boasts stunning depth and power. Suggestions of melted road tar and smoke add a rich, baritone dimension to the warm, resonant finish. The 2009 is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. These two wines from Frazier are loaded with intensity and pure personality". — Issue #204
2009 FRAZIER CABERNET
92 Points, Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
"Dark plums, cherries, raspberry jam, cinnamon, mocha and rose petals are some of the notes that emerge from the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. A luscious, mid-weight wine, the 2009 Cabernet impresses for its overall balance and sense of harmony. Layers of flavor continue to build to the rich, textured finish. This is a terrific showing from Frazier. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021". — Issue #204
2008 MEMENTO
94 Points, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
A vastly concentrated Cabernet. Frazier seems to have taken their basic Cabernet, which is an excellent wine, and intensified everything about it. With explosive blackberry, cassis, blueberry, dark chocolate and oak flavors, it’s almost too much of a good thing. Your best bet is to cellar it, but that’s chancy. The alcohol is very high, and we do not know how these modern Cabernets will ride out the years. — S.H. (6/1/2012)
2008 FRAZIER CABERNET
93 Points, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
The vintage was kind to Frazier, whose red wines excelled in 2008. This Cabernet Sauvignon, made by Kirk Venge, is classic Napa Valley. It’s dry, richly textured in tannins, and complex, offering intense waves of blackberries, black currants, crème de cassis and oak. Yes, the alcohol is high, but who’s counting? As good as it is now, it should develop bottle complexity over the next 4–6 years. — S.H. (6/1/2012)
Gold Medal, American Fine Wine Competition, 2012
2008 FRAZIER MERLOT
92 Points, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
This is a great Napa Valley Merlot, from a winery with a generally good track record with the variety. The grapes were grown in the Coombsville region, although they were allowed to get very ripe, resulting in fairly high alcohol and rich cherry, berry, dark chocolate and anise flavors. It’s notable for grippy tannins that give it a firm, dry mouthfeel. — S.H. (6/1/2012)
Gold Medal, American Fine Wine Competition, 2012
2008 FRAZIER PETIT VERDOT
92 Points, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
An intense concentration of blackberry and cassis fruit marks this dry, opulent wine. It could easily be a Cabernet Sauvignon, with its rich vein of tannins and distinguished structure. Although it’s a bit hot in alcohol, it represents one of the more successful varietal bottlings of Petit Verdot, which is normally a blending grape. Drink now–2014. — S.H. (6/1/2012)
2008 FRAZIER CABERNET FRANC
91 Points, Steve Heimoff, The Wine Enthusiast
Delicious, with pleasurable flavors of milk chocolate, cherries and dried red currants, as well as the sweet toast of oak. The tannins are wonderfully pure and complex, in the Napa style. — S.H. (6/1/2012)
2007 MEMENTO
91-93 Points, Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate #186
"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Memento reveals slightly more chocolate fudge-like characteristics intermixed with red and black fruits. Big, deep, and rich with plenty of tannin, its concentration is so impressive that I do not believe it is a gamble to sit on this wine for 5-7 years, and drink it over the following two decades".
92 Points, The Wine Enthusiast
"You should know that the alcohol in this multi-vineyard wine is high, which makes it soft and slightly sweet. But it’s also enormously rich and complex, offering tiers of blackberries and raspberries, chocolate and currants, dusty spices and smoky oak. Totally in the modern cult style, it’s at its best now and for a few more years". — S.H. (11/1/2010)
2007 FRAZIER CABERNET
90-92 Points, Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate #186
"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate exhibits an inky/purple color, a big, sweet nose of chocolate, cocoa, creme de cassis, blackberries, earth, and licorice. Dense, full-bodied, and opulent with an abundance of tannin as well as fruit, length, and depth. Give it 3-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 25+".
90 Points, The Wine Enthusiast
"Rich fruit and oak mark this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. You can’t help but like the blackberries, plums, currants, licorice, cocoa and toast flavors, or the way the tannins are so smooth and refined. Good now, with a brief decant, and should hold for 4–5 more years". — S.H.
2007 FRAZIER CABERNET FRANC
92 Points, The Wine Enthusiast
"Cab Franc on its own can be linear, but this one isn’t. It’s a complete wine, brimming with red and black berry, currant, anise and sweet oak aromas and flavors. Fully dry, its tannic structure is pure Napa. Just delicious now with a good steak". - Steve Heimoff
2006 MEMENTO
95 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
"Plush and juicy Cabernet Sauvignon with bright plum and smooth, velvety texture; supple, dense and long with firm acidity, generous flavors and excellent balance; great aging potential".
90 Points, The Wine Enthusiast, September 2009
"The alcohol is a shocking 16%, but the truth is this wine is deliciously drinkable, in a soft, velvety way. Shows decadent flavors of blackberry essence, cherry tart, dark chocolate and cedar, grounded by earthy notes of sage. Very rich and exotic, almost a liqueur. Drink now. - S.H. (9/1/2009) 2006 FRAZIER CABERNET
Double Gold, American Fine Wine Competiton, 2010
About the American Fine Wine Competition
2005 MEMENTO
96+ Points, Robert Parker, June 2015
"Their more expensive cuvee, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Memento, is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Petit Verdot, aged 20 months in French oak. This is another wine that tips the scales at 15% natural alcohol. The blackest, densest colored of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignons, this wine is also one of the superstars of the vintage. Gorgeous levels of plum, blackberry and blackcurrant fruit soar from the glass of this inky purple, impenetrably colored 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. One could be looking at a barrel sample if you didn't know it was already ten years of age. It's that youthful, it is also remarkably promising -- full bodied, with an enormous wealth of rich fruit, no astringency whatsoever, and silky tannins. This is a mind-blowing, blockbuster wine and one of the biggest, richest, most promising wines of the vintage. I suspect another 5-20 years of cellaring may well end up making the Frazier Memento one of the legends of the vintage. But like everything, patience is essential". eRobertParker.com #219, Jun 2015
92 Points, The Wine Enthusiast, December 2008
"...
Like their regular '05, it's a very tannic wine, not suitable for drinking now or possibly anytime soon. But it's clearly powerful and concentrated in flavor, with a dense layering of cassis and freshly-crushed blackberries. Totally dry...it should reward cellaring over the next eight years". — S.H. (12/1/2008)
92 Points, The Wine News, September 2008
"Black garnet hue. Heady aromas of eucalyptus, mocha and nutmeg. Baker's chocolate and black cherry fruit with muscular tannins and flinty mineral flavors. This is a power-packed Cab with big tannins and youthful astringency that needs to soften up".
Recommended, Decanter Magazine, Jan. 2009
Floral, inky, cedar and cassis with vanilla and pepper. Intense mint chocolate and coffee. Extracted, but good acidity. Drink from 2009
2005 FRAZIER CABERNET
93 Points, Robert Parker, June 2015
"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon...was aged 20 months in French oak and tips the scales at 15% natural alcohol. The wine is a rich, full-bodied, rather classic Napa Cab. Inky, ruby/purple, it offers loads of licorice, cedar wood, underbrush and blackcurrant fruit and a powerful mouthfeel, yet approachability. This has at least another 10-15 years of upside potential. I love the texture of this wine as well, as it's almost chewy and unctuous, but not heavy or cloying. Drink it over the next 10+ years". eRobertParker.com, #219, Jun 2015
4 stars, Highly Recommended, Decanter Magazine, Jan. 2009
Plenty of fruit purity. Seamless acids and tannins. Quite mineral driven and restrained - Bordeaux style. Good balance, classical. Drink from 2009.
91 Points, The Wine Enthusiast, December 2008
"You'll want to stash this young Cab away for a while...it has a very rich, concentrated core of cassis flavor and is dry and balanced in acidity. Should negotiate the next 6–8 years easily, and maybe longer". S.H. (12/1/2008)
2005 FRAZIER MERLOT
92 Points, The Wine Enthusiast, June 2008
"This is a serious Merlot, a welcome relief from the sea of mediocrity that masquerades under the variety. Grown in the winery's estate vineyard in the southerly Coombsville area, the wine shows similarities to Carneros Merlots. Dry, fairly tannic, with crisp acidity and an earthy grounding, it has supple, refined flavors of black cherries, currants, cocoa, violets and cedar".
2004 FRAZIER CABERNET
Gold Medal, Orange County Fair Wine Competition, June 2008
90 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, April 2008
"Lovely ripe plum and clean generous flavors; lovely with a long, seamless finish that provides complexity and charm".
3 Stars, Recommended, Decanter Magazine, January 2008
"Sweet, jammy, cherry and blackcurrant, smoky oak. Good concentration. Spicy with quite good length. Drink 2009-2016 ".
2004 FRAZIER MERLOT
90 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine, June 2007
2003 FRAZIER CABERNET
94 Points, Taster's Choice Selection, The Wine News, July '06
"Intense ruby-purple hue. Complex, though somewhat reserved aromas of blueberry, mixed berries, minerals, bittersweet chocolate and iron. Concentrated, inky flavors of blackberry, mocha, minerals and dried tobacco are dense yet lithe. Creamy finish shows lively citrus notes."
90 Points, The Wine Enthusiast, September 2006
"It's been several years since I last tasted a Frazier Cab, but this '03 brought back memories of the excellent '99. It's not quite as rich, but is classically structured. From a cooler part of the valley, it blends dried herbs in with the black currants".
2001 FRAZIER CABERNET
93 Points, Anthony Dias Blue, February 2005
"Rich and dense with lovely flesh and ripe plum and berry fruit; lush oak, spice and a long, juicy finish."
92 Points, The Wine News, August 2004
"Black-garnet hue. Powerful aromas of wild cherry, rhubarb, tobacco, peppermint and a citrus note. Forward flavors of tangy raspberry, cherry, pencil lead, tea and minerals have a milky mouth-feel and vibrant acidity. Spicy finish shows coffee bean."
89 Points, Robert Parker, February 2005
"A chocolate, espresso and black-current scented bouquet is followed by a supple textured, lush, heady Cabernet displaying abundant fruit, medium to full-body, and no hard edges. With plenty of glycerin, fruit, and texture,this hedonistic 2001 will have wide appeal. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years."
FRAZIER WINERY
"Being Different" article from the Napa Valley Register, April 7th, 2005
"Bill Frazier Forges Ahead" article from the St. Helena Star, April 14th, 2005
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