2024 Frank Family Carneros Chardonnay estate spotlight
Frank Family's own film of the stone building, the 1884 Larkmead Winery refinished in native sandstone in 1906.
The market on this bottle
U.S. shop listings for this bottle, before sales tax. Auctions and clearance specials are left out. The main-listing low is $31.66, so this bottle is $32. Checked 2026-10-06.
Carneros Chardonnay
2024 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Carneros, USA
Most of Lewis Vineyard is Chardonnay, on the San Pablo Bay side of Napa-Carneros.
Rich Frank bought the 1884 Larkmead Winery in 1992, refinished in the native sandstone of 1906, and opened Frank Family over the July 4 weekend in 1993. This 2024 is Carneros Chardonnay, and James Suckling scored it 92. The bottle is $32.
A long cold ferment, then nine months in French oak
The wine ferments long and cold, goes through partial malolactic, and the lees are stirred. It spends nine months in French oak, 34 percent new, 33 percent once-filled, and 33 percent twice-filled. Beckstoffer fruit from Napa-Carneros and Sangiacomo fruit from Sonoma-Carneros join Lewis. Todd Graff has been winemaker and general manager since 2003.
James Suckling scored the 2024 a 92 in December 2025, and Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wine Value in 2024 was the 2022, the prior vintage of this Chardonnay. If the prior vintage made that list, why skip the current bottle?
Lewis
Lewis Vineyard is 78 planted acres, 68 of them Chardonnay, on the San Pablo Bay side of Napa-Carneros.
The fruit
Beckstoffer in Napa-Carneros and Sangiacomo in Sonoma-Carneros join Lewis in this Carneros Chardonnay.
The oak
Nine months in French oak, split 34 percent new, 33 percent once-filled, and 33 percent twice-filled.
The score
James Suckling scored the 2024 a 92 in December 2025.
James Suckling 92 on the 2024
James Suckling scored the 2024 a 92 in December 2025. Wine Spectator's Top 10 Wine Value in 2024 was the 2022 of this Chardonnay, the prior vintage.
The glass shows lemon, guava, vanilla, caramel apple, nutmeg, creme brulee, and toasted oak. Picked September 3 to September 26, 2024, and bottled in June 2025.
Lemon, guava, and creme brulee
Lemon and guava first, then vanilla, caramel apple, nutmeg, creme brulee, and toasted oak.
The 2024 is $32. Twelve bottles ship free in the lower 48. Hawaii and Alaska are quoted on their own.
Lemon and guava.
Vanilla, caramel apple, and nutmeg.
Creme brulee and toasted oak.
Cold ferment, partial malolactic, stirred lees
Lewis Vineyard is the foundation, and the cellar work is a long cold fermentation, partial malolactic, and nine months in French oak.
Lewis Vineyard is 78 planted acres, 68 of them Chardonnay, on the San Pablo Bay side of Napa-Carneros. Beckstoffer fruit from Napa-Carneros and Sangiacomo fruit from Sonoma-Carneros join it.
The wine goes through a long cold fermentation, partial malolactic, and lees stirring. It spends nine months in French oak: 34 percent new, 33 percent once-filled, and 33 percent twice-filled.
Picking ran from September 3 to September 26, 2024. The wine was bottled in June 2025. Todd Graff has been winemaker and general manager since 2003.
The 1884 stone winery
Rich Frank bought the old Larkmead Winery and opened Frank Family there over a July 4 weekend.
Rich Frank bought the 1884 Larkmead Winery in 1992.
The building was refinished in native sandstone in 1906, and it is on the National Register.
Frank Family opened over the July 4 weekend in 1993. Todd Graff has been winemaker and general manager since 2003.
Scallops in the pan, peas in the rice
Seared sea scallops and a pea risotto meet the lemon, the guava, and the creme brulee.
Two plates. Seared sea scallops for the toasted oak and the lemon, and pea risotto for the softer side of the glass.
Serve it cool. It does not need a long decant.
Seared sea scallops
Dry sea scallops, patted very dry, then seared hard in a hot pan until the crust is deep brown and the center stays tender.
Why it works: A hard sear and a sweet center line up with lemon, toasted oak, and creme brulee.
View Recipe for Seared sea scallops (opens in a new tab)Pea risotto
Risotto rice finished with peas, Parmesan, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Why it works: Peas and lemon in the rice meet the lemon and guava without covering the wine.
View Recipe for Pea risotto (opens in a new tab)Open the Carneros Chardonnay
James Suckling scored the 2024 a 92. The bottle is $32.
Open the 2024 with seared sea scallops.
