Vineyard: Lewis

AppellationCarneros
VarietiesPinot Noir

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2017 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay

14.5% alc., $70. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Lively aromas of lemon curd, pineapple, Golden Delicious apple, and white flower blossom. Bright and vibrant in character with obvious class, offering flavors of lemon-lime, pear and green apple. A bit reserved in fruit intensity, yet offering upbeat vitality, and finishing with a pleasing cut of acidity on the finish. Score: 93. Reviewed July 20, 2019 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2017 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Reserve Napa Valley Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $70. Lewis Vineyard is 78 acres (68 acres of Chardonnay and 10 acres of Pinot Noir) located in the heart of Napa- Carneros near the shores of San Pablo Bay. Restricting soils of dense clay loam. Predominant maritime influence. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely perfume of black cherry, cardamom spice and pipe smoke. Sleek and easily approachable in a mid weight style offering flavors of black cherry and boysenberry with mild toasty oak in the background. A commendable offering with nothing to criticize except that a slight sense of alcoholic warmth lingers at the end. Score: 92. Reviewed July 20, 2019 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2016 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Napa Carneros Reserve Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.53, TA 0.60, 1,000 cases, $65. Released March 2018. Heavy bottle with embossed label. Dijon clones. Aged 11 months in 100% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Lovely aromas of lemon curd, ripe yellow apple and crème brûlée. Creamy, and quite flavorful on the palate in a rich style popularized in California. Flavors of lemon, pineapple, tropical fruits and yellow grapefruit. Comforting to drink with a seductive mouth feel, but this is not particularly acid-driven wine as far as vibrancy or mineral content. The decadent fruit sops up the lavish oak such that the oak blends in and becomes complimentary. There are many fans who relish this style of Chardonnay. Score: 92. Reviewed June 29, 2018 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2016 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Napa Valley Reserve Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.59, 1,000 cases, $65. Released March 2018. Heavy bottle with embossed label. Clones 115, 667 and 777. Aged 10 months in 50% new and 50% once-filled French oak barrels. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Initially, the nose offers only toast and lite cigar aromas, but with swirling, ripe, black fruit aromas show up. Full-bodied, velvety and fat in the mouth with waves of blackberry and cassis fruit flavors. The oak is intrusive upon opening with flavors of vanilla and taste chiming in. The tannins are well-proportioned, the finish is not as intense as the fruit load would suggest and a bit of alcohol awareness peaks out at the end. The wine is accessible now but certainly should show less oak overlay with more time in bottle. Still, a lot of fruit and oak to get your arms around. Score: 89. Reviewed June 29, 2018 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.46, TA 0.61, 25,000 cases, $35. The foundation of this wine is the Frank Family’s Lewis Vineyard in Napa Carneros. Other fruit sources include Beckstoffer Vineyards and Hudson Vineyards in Napa Carneros and Sangiacomo Vineyards in Sonoma Carneros. Barrel fermented and aged with lees stirring for 9 months in French oak barrels, 34% new. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of petrichor, apple, pear, white peach, straw and vanilla. Crisp and fresh on the palate, with apple-focused flavor and very little oak overlay. Score: 89. Reviewed October 30, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Reserve Carneros Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.26, TA 0.61, 1,000 cases, $65. Dijon clones. Aged 11 months in 100% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. More oak influence in this reserve wine, but it is not overbearing. Aromas of apple, lemon curd and spice gather intensity over time in the glass. Refined, seamless and sophisticated, with a tasty melange of citrus, apple, tropical fruit and spice flavors and beautifully integrated oak accents. A classy wine that has all the best features of barrel fermentation. Score: 94. Reviewed October 30, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Reserve Napa Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.60, 1,000 cases, $65. Lewis Vineyard is located near the shores of San Pablo Bay. Bought by Rich Frank in 2000 and named for Paul Frank’s son, Lewis, this 68-acre vineyard has 10 acres planted to Pinot Noir. Soils are primarily shallow, dense clay loam and rainfall is limited to 20 inches annually resulting in very low yields. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% once-filled. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A big boy, hedonistic wine with a plethora of blackberry, cassis and oak vanillin aromas and flavors. The tannins and acidity keep the fruit corralled, such that the wine is relatively light on its feet. Totally different from the regular bottling and well done in this generously oaked reserve style Pinot Noir. Score: 91. Reviewed October 30, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Frank Family Vineyards Reserve Lewis Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.58, TA 0.59, 1,000 cases, $65. Clones 115, 667, and 777. Aged 19 months in 100% French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% once-filled. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. The nose opens reluctantly over time to reveal ever-expanding aromas of plum, dark berry jam, black raspberry preserves, and BBQ rub spices. An opulent, full-bodied wine with deep berry and cherry flavors that fill every nook and cranny in the mouth. The oak is beautifully integrated, offering a pleasurable seasoning. The luscious fruit really taps into the brain’s pleasure centers and provides waves of goodness that last and last on the finish. Score: 93. Reviewed June 14, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Frank Family Vineyards Reserve Lewis Vineyard Napa Carneros Chardonnay

14.5% alc., pH 3.23, TA 0.64, 1,000 cases, $65. Dijon clones. Aged 11 months in 100% new French oak barrels. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. The nose exudes aromas of lemon oil, crème brûlée, honey and nutty oak. Discreetly lush on the palate with a slightly viscous mouth feel, offering hi-tone fruit flavors of lemon, grapefruit, white peach and pear. A very like able wine with good vibrancy, complimentary oak highlights, and a dry, thirst-quenching finish. Score: 92. Reviewed June 14, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Frank Family Vineyards Lewis Vineyard Reserve Napa Carneros Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.51, TA 0.60, 1,481 cases, $65. Aged 10 months in 50% new and 50% once-filled French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Clearly a step up in quality over the regular Carneros bottling with deep, penetrating aromas of darker berries and cherries with a complimentary hint of spicy, smoky oak. A fruit-driven wine of impressive flavor with layers of blueberry, black raspberry and plum fruit that is classy. An earthy, savory undertone reflects a Carneros identity. The balance is spot on with integrated tannins, a healthy acid spine, and plenty of fruit goodness hanging on through a long finish. Score: 92. Reviewed October 21, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »