2016 Frank Family Vineyards Calistoga Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Frank Family Vineyards was founded in 2007 when former Disney executive Rich Frank purchased the Kornell Champagne Cellars in Calistoga, Napa Valley. The winemaker is Todd Graff, who worked in Europe and at such Napa Valley estates as Stag’s Leap and Schramsberg before joining Frank Family Vineyards. The winery’s nearly 200 acres of vineyards our located in Rutherford, Carneros and just east of the Vaca Mountain range. The locations are among the most prestigious in the area. Frank Family produces Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, but is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, including some highly limited production Cabs that are made available only to the estate’s mailing list.

Calistoga AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having been given appellation status in 2010. It is notable for its volcanic soil, which is unusual in the Napa Valley. Calistoga also experiences the greatest average 24-hour temperature swing of any Napa Valley AVAs, which Calistoga grape growers insist give the grapes time to “cool down” at night, making for better balanced wines. The 1,500 Calistoga vineyard acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah, along with smaller amounts of other varietals. Calistoga is at the northern end of Napa Valley, northwest of the Diamond District and St. Helena AVAs. Longtime winemaker Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, which is located in the Calistoga AVA, proposed the creation of the appellation.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.