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The 2000 vintage at Frazier Winery was the beginning of a new era, with fruit from our new ten-acre vineyard coming into production. Two additional clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot were planted to further our goals of producing the finest wines possible from our estate. The 2000 vintage also marks the first with our new designation for this wine. Previously labeled as Lupine Hill Vineyard, we have chosen to rename our property as the Frazier Family Estate. After the late harvest of 1998 and the even later harvest of 1999, 2000 took place in early to mid-October and it was completed before fall rains could intervene. The Cabernet Sauvignon was divided into 7 different pickings, the Merlot into 3, and the Cabernet Franc had its own picking. As has been our practice, the wines were cold-soaked for color extraction prior to fermentation, and then were left on the skins after fermentation for periods of up to 45 days. The free run was transferred to a combination of new French and American oak barrels for aging. During the aging process, the blends were assembled utilizing blending wines which were not previously available to us. We believe the 2000 Frazier Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon to be our finest to date.

Harvested in late October and early November, the 1999 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon with its very low yield promised a wine of extraordinary concentration. Through a vigorous pumpover regime, followed by extended maceration periods of 38 days on average, we believe this to be the finest Cabernet Sauvignon we have released. As is our practice, the free run wine from each individual vineyard block was drawn off the fermenters and was moved to 100% new French oak barrels for aging. Each separate wine lot was nurtured through quarterly barrel rackings in the first year before blending. In September of 2000, 6% Merlot was added to enhance the full impression of fruit aromas and flavors. The wine was allowed to develop further with an additional 9 months of aging with another 1.5% Merlot added prior to bottling in July 2001.

After selling out of our 2001 Memento and losing our entire 2002 vintage of Memento in a warehouse fire everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of the 2003 Memento. With less than 250 cases produced it's sure to go fast.

The 2003 Frazier Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet in color which is a clue to the expansive qualities of this rich wine. Aromas of raspberries and currants waft upwards to fill your glass. The inviting flavors of blackberries, bittersweet chocolate, anise, vanilla, and toasty oak are balanced with a firm muscular backbone which will soften to its peak in 8 to 10 years. This hearty Cabernet will certainly enhance a menu of grilled lamb, roast beef, stews, as well as a chocolate torte.

After a one year hiatus from producing a Frazier Merlot, we are pleased to announce the release of the 2002 Frazier Family Estate Merlot. Following the unfortunate frost which we experienced during the spring of 2001, we have been hesitant to predict just how our vines would come back from that damage. In some cases, the effects of frost are felt for many years afterward. During the winter of 2002, we pruned all of our Merlot blocks to a reduced crop to assist the vines in their recovery by not asking them to produce much fruit. With lower expectations of quantity, we hoped that the quality would be increased. What the vineyard did was produce what is probably our best Merlot to date.

The 2003 Frazier Family Estate Merlot is ruby red in color and offers the aromas of ripe cherries, cedar, and toasty oak. The flavors of strawberries, cherries, cloves, cinnamon, are nicely complemented with hints of smoky French oak. This Merlot is full bodied with a long, smooth finish is enjoyable now and will continue to develop in the bottle for 4 to 5 years. With winter months upon us, try this Merlot as an aperitif fireside with strong blue cheeses, or pair it with grilled beef and pasta dishes.

As a winegrower, every year we strive to produce the finest fruit possible in our vineyards. Successes in the vineyard usually start with the intense planning that goes into vineyard development. Long before the vines are fruitful, decisions relating to the use of proper rootstocks for the vineyard site, varietal and clonal material, vine spacing, and trellising were all debated in hopes that the right combination will produce the best wines.

After 2 years of cold weather that resulted in picking grapes after Halloween until the middle of November, mother nature smiled upon us in 2000. After a normal amount of rainfall, a warm spring followed with bud break taking place in early April. A nearly flawless berry set took place in June. With a warm but not too hot summer, all signs pointed towards picking fruit in the early part of October. During crush, the fruit was separated into 3 distinct lots based on location from the vineyard and fermentation regimes. The 2000 vintage also marked the first harvest from our new adjoining vineyard. Previously our Merlot production was based almost solely on what we had not needed for blending purposes into our Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2000 with an additional 3,350 vines of Merlot, we had the largest harvest of Merlot to date.

Blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot, the 2003 Lupine Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is a scaled down version of our Frazier Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, but that does not mean it is lacking in character or stature. This wine has the aromas and flavors of blackberries, cherries, anise, and bittersweet chocolate, all of which are complemented with toasty oak. Serve this impressive and affordable Cabernet with cheeses, grilled meats, hearty stews, or chocolate desserts.

Owing to the small percentages of blending varietals used and aging in French and American oak in the 2003 Lupine Hill Merlot is a soft, round, fruity wine with aromas of raspberries and toasted almonds. The flavors of Bing cherries, strawberries, spearmint, with kisses of cinnamon and dill are surrounded by vanilla and coconut. A lively wine which served at cellar temperature can be used as an aperitif while cooking or accompanied by grilled meats or poultry.

With our earliest bud break ever at our Frazier Family Estate Vineyard, spring is in full swing in the Napa Valley. Springtime means spring training for Major League Baseball, March Madness, and also that it’s time to dust off the barbeque and get ready for picnics and outdoor dining. Just in time for these occasions is the release of our 2002 Lupine Hill Merlot. A softer-styled Merlot than our Frazier Family Estate release, this wine shows bright strawberry and berry aromas and is followed by flavors of black cherries, licorice, cinnamon, and cloves.

After selling out of our 2001 Memento and losing our entire 2002 vintage of Memento in a warehouse fire everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of the 2003 Memento. With less than 250 cases produced it's sure to go fast.