2018 Frias Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Block 5

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 92.5 points

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  11/15/2023 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 93 Points

  I feel like this wine was overshadowed by the two Beckstoffers we had last night in Philadelphia with CT friends, Mark and Carol.
  I gave this three hours of air - a splash decant then back in the bottle. I will say that this was not nearly as complex as the 2021 I had recently with Sean, Andy, and Jarod at a Frias tasting in September.
  
  This is a dark garnet wine with black cherries and cassis on the nose and palate. There is distinct licorice, olives and chocolate on the mid palate. The wine has great density and structure with chewy tannins that balance out the rich fruits. just not nearly as layered or expressive as the recently bottled 2021. Hopefully, some more hang time will improve this wine.
  
  This comes from an oakville vineyard. I told Mark and Carol that this was from Fortuna, but I think I have confused that with their Prado, which is definitely Fortuna. Perhaps either Andy or Sean can shed some light on this.
  Again, this was very good, but not as great as I remembered the 2021. this is most unfortunate, in light of the price bump of the recent vintage

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  11/14/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Brought to tonight's dinner by FB. My first Frias wine ever, if memory serves?...dark purple in the glass. Intriguing nose, much different than the other 3 wines tonight. It's more powerful fruit, oak, tannins with underlying savory notes. FB says he believes this is from the Turnbull owned Fortuna vineyard. The palate follows the nose in strength and all the aforementioned nose elements. This has lots of potential to improve but as with most '18s it just needs more time.

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