2023 Frank Family Napa Cabernet estate spotlight
Frank Family's own 2023 harvest film, from the sorting table through fermentation.
The market on this bottle
Wine-Searcher tracks this 2023 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley across the open market. Their published U.S. low is $44.90 and the average is $52.82. Our slash is $43.00.
Napa Valley Cabernet
2023 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA
Benjamin and S&J in one Napa Cabernet, with a James Suckling 94.
Frank Family's 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet is 86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Merlot, and 6 percent Petit Verdot, from Benjamin vineyard east of Conn Creek and from S&J in Capell Valley, named for Stella and Jeremy. James Suckling scored it 94 in December 2025. The bottle is $43.
A wet, cool 2023 that finished on November 9
Benjamin vineyard sits east of Conn Creek in Rutherford, on gravelly loam. S&J sits in Capell Valley, east of the Vaca range, on clay loam set against the Rutherford Bench. The wine spent 20 months in French oak, 33 percent new, and finished at 14.5 percent alcohol.
Todd Graff has made the wines since 2003, and he called the 2023 vintage exceptional after a wet, cool, late harvest that finished on November 9 at S&J. If he calls the year exceptional and Suckling has it at 94, what are you still unsure about?
Benjamin
East of Conn Creek in Rutherford, on gravelly loam, and one of the two sites in the blend.
S&J
Capell Valley, east of the Vaca range, named for Stella and Jeremy, on clay loam against the Rutherford Bench.
The blend
86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Merlot, and 6 percent Petit Verdot.
The cellar
20 months in French oak, 33 percent new, at 14.5 percent alcohol.
James Suckling 94, December 2025
James Suckling scored the 2023 a 94 in December 2025.
Cassis, tobacco, cocoa, coffee bean, and nutmeg sit in the glass, and the tannins are fine and sweet.
Cassis, cocoa, and sweet tannins
Cassis and tobacco open. Cocoa, coffee bean, and nutmeg follow. The tannins are fine and sweet, which is what 20 months in French oak was for.
Pour the 2023 at $43. Twelve bottles ship free in the lower 48. Hawaii and Alaska are quoted on their own.
Cassis and tobacco.
Cocoa, coffee bean, and nutmeg.
Fine sweet tannins.
French oak, a third of it new
Twenty months in barrel, then a Cabernet that still tastes like cassis and cocoa rather than wood.
The fruit is split between Benjamin vineyard, on Rutherford gravelly loam east of Conn Creek, and S&J, on clay loam in Capell Valley east of the Vaca range.
Cabernet Sauvignon leads at 86 percent, with 8 percent Merlot and 6 percent Petit Verdot. Alcohol is 14.5 percent.
Todd Graff has had the cellar since 2003. He called 2023 exceptional after a wet, cool, late harvest that did not finish at S&J until November 9.
Graff since 2003, and two vineyards
The cellar has had the same winemaker for two decades, and this bottle is Benjamin plus S&J.
Todd Graff has been winemaker since 2003, long enough to know a late year when the fruit finally comes in.
Benjamin vineyard lies east of Conn Creek in Rutherford, on gravelly loam.
S&J lies in Capell Valley, east of the Vaca range, named for Stella and Jeremy, on clay loam against the Rutherford Bench.
Ribeye, then chimichurri
Cassis and cocoa want a charred ribeye, and the sweet tannins want the herbs and vinegar of chimichurri.
Two plates. A grilled ribeye. A bowl of chimichurri. Both can take cassis, cocoa, and those fine tannins.
Give this Cabernet a short decant, then pour it beside the ribeye.
Grilled ribeye
A thick ribeye, salted ahead, grilled over the cooler side, then seared over high heat.
Why it works: The char and the fat meet cassis and cocoa, and the sweet tannins stay polite next to the beef.
View Recipe for Grilled ribeye (opens in a new tab)Chimichurri sauce
Parsley, garlic, dried oregano, and red wine vinegar stirred with oil.
Why it works: The vinegar and herbs cut the oak and pick up the tobacco and nutmeg.
View Recipe for Chimichurri sauce (opens in a new tab)Pour the Rutherford and Capell Valley Cabernet
James Suckling scored the 2023 a 94, and the bottle is $43.
Open the 2023 Frank Family Napa Valley Cabernet with grilled ribeye.
