
Frias Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 'Spring Mountain District' 2019
Hidden among the wooded hills northwest of the central Napa Valley town of St. Helena, Frias Family Vineyard is a small hand-tended property with variable terrain, from terraces to steep hillsides. The Spring Mountain appellation lies on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma Valley.
This flagship wine SMD (Spring Mountain District) is Frias' original vineyard. This amazing vineyard manifests fruit with rich dark berries, tobacco leaves, savoury meats, toasty oak, floral vanilla, and graphite in the nose. The bright, forward fruit on the palate carries a soft sweetness that turns dense with mocha, raspberry, and currant, giving a grip to the supporting structure and vibrant finish.
93 Points - Wine Spectator
A juicy, fruit-driven wine with loads of expressive boysenberry and mulberry notes backed by a liberal mix of dried anise, apple wood and sweet bay leaf. This has the racy, grippy combo of mountain fruit, too, with an excellent length through the finish.
92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Value is the game's name with the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon SMD, a 100% Spring Mountain Cabernet that spent 19 months in 56% new French oak. Tobacco, iron, peppery herbs, and jammy black and blue fruits all flow to a medium-bodied, round, supple, seamless beauty that's perfect for drinking over the coming decade.
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Drawn from the family's original vineyard planted in 1985, the 2019 SMD Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain offers hints of bay leaf and sage, plus ample cassis fruit. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it lacks the richness of the Reserva, but it is a silky, elegant effort for drinking over the next decade or so.