2003 Frazier Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Codename: All in the family
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Our Operatives demand another great Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon. Send Agent Red to Napa Valley to investigate claims that the Frazier family has crafted an ‘03 Cab that holds its own against wines at twice the price. If verified, procure a suitable quantity for our Operatives to enjoy
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Frazier Family Estate Winery
Wine Subject: 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley
Winemakers: John Gibson
Backgrounder: Earlier this year, we procured a small allotment of Frazier’s fantastic 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. We loved the wine, as did our Operatives. The fervor that was expressed for the wine led Agent Red back to the winery, this time for stellar selection for the winery’s library. Read his tasting notes and mission report below for a complete profile of today’s wine
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deep garnet with a dark burgundy – almost black – heart with a speedy yet weighty-looking surface that settles quickly after swirling, leaving behind fat, tightly-spaced legs that move slowly down the glass
Smell – Lush layers of dark and smoky fruits, with a spicy rush of blueberry, blackberry, mocha, licorice and minerals with mild spice and soft cigar box
Feel – Wet, light and cool at initial entry, then lush tannins take hold with a rich texture that coats your mouth as flavors expand and become even larger in your mouth
Taste – Deeply delicious with lush layers of concentrated fruit of dark mixed berries, smoky plum, chalky mineral, black cherry, tobacco, dark chocolate and cassis
Finish – Extra long finish with richly layered medium tannins that dry but then leave behind big flavors that increase and then taper gradually
Conclusion – If I was crazy about the 2004 Cab from Frazier, I am Bonkers about this gorgeous 2003! This wine has a super mouthfeel, a delicious concentration of classic Napa flavors, layer upon layer of lush aromas and an intriguing finish. I love Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and this wine really shines through as one of the richest, duskiest and most delicious I have tried. With a little bottle age on it, this wine is drinking beautifully – and it will even continue to get better with age.
Mission Report:
What follows is a mission recap, from the first time we infiltrated the Frazier Family Estate winery:
I can’t divulge the exact details on how I procured today’s wine. I could tell you, but then, you know. I can, however,
As a Wine Spy, I have to develop new assets – those people that feed me intel on wines, wineries, winemakers and the like – all of the time. Sometimes these assets take a long time to develop, while others come about more quickly. Still others are developed through sheer chance – as is the case with my most recent asset.
Those who know me know that as recently as 2007, I was a competition foil fencer (you know, en guarde and the like). I wasn’t the greatest fencer, but would consistently hold my own at regional competitions. You also know that until January of 2009, I will remain stationed in Monterey, California. I was relocated here in late 2007 to help establish one of our three bases of operations, which now include Sonoma/Napa, Beverly Hills and Monterey. When I moved down from Sonoma, I found that Monterey had no fencing.
I was miserable, until I learned just this month that a few hardcore fencers gather at the local YMCA twice a week. I was elated.
I showed up last Sunday and found all of one fencer there. Better than none, and I gladly suited up. I won’t tell you how poorly I fenced, but I will tell you that the gentleman that I fenced turned out to be a former winemaker! We hit it off and chatted about the wine business between bouts.
The fencer, I’ll call him Tom, was winemaker for a prominent Monterey County winery that was acquired by a bigger Napa Valley winery. While has hasn’t been active in the business, his knowledge about wine and the global wine scene was impressive. We talked about a few wineries and I asked him if he had tasted a recent wine that knocked his socks off. He told me about Frazier Family Estate winery and their fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tom’s recommendation led me to activate another of my assets, Agent NV (as in envy and Napa Valley – more about NV in an upcoming mission). NV was able to get me a quick meeting with Kimberly Frazier, Operations Manager (meaning she does everything at the winery) and daughter of Bill Frazier, who founded the winery in 1995. Kim allowed us to secure a small quantity for you today, dear Operative, at a very special price. A hearty thanks to Kim!
Look for a subsequent mission, when we’ll feature another great Frazier wine. I hope to be able to spend some time with Kim and Bill in order to bring you another winery/winemaker interview. Look for that later this year.
Meanwhile, act fast, because this wine will go fast – and once its gone, its gone…
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the beautiful Frazier Estate, where today’s Cabernet Sauvignon was grown, can be seen in this satellite photo.
