Frias Family Vineyard Lady of the Dead

About Frias Family Vineyard Lady of the Dead

Frias Family Vineyard Lady of the Dead is a hedonistic wine, dark and enticing with generous layers of wild dark fruit, lavender, fig, plum, and cardamom. Matured 19 months in a mix of French and Hungarian oak (25% new), it delivers lively notes of ripe cherries and vanilla. Full-bodied, plush, and creamy in feel, it’s very supple and easy to drink, but it retains a sense of freshness. The 2019 Lady of the Dead has a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley supplemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Graciano from premier vineyard sites in Paso Robles.

About Frias Family Vineyard

Hidden among the wooded hills northwest of the central Napa Valley town of St. Helena, Frias Family Vineyard is a small hand-tended property with variable terrain, from terraces to steep hillsides. The Spring Mountain appellation lies on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma Valley. Parent material for the soils is derived from weathered volcanic and sedimentary rock, and those shallow red soils are scattered with rocky debris that allows good drainage and limits the vine growth and yield. Such diversity requires careful hand work, and the vineyard is divided into multiple small plots. Yet they all contribute to the complexity of the wines grown on the estate.

In 1977, Manny Frias Sr purchased 100 acres in the iconic Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley. He planted just 5 acres in 1985 and launched Frias Family Vineyard with the first vintage in 1987. Frias now has 13 acres of hillside vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. they also source premium fruit from Oakville & Yountville AVAs. Second-generation brothers Fernando and Manny Frias Jr. are now at the helm of this artisanal family winery. Todd Heth has been the winemaker since 2004.

Manny Sr. was fortunate to grow up in San Francisco, and during college there, a Basque friend introduced him to the joys of Napa Valley wines. They would often make a day trip to visit Napa Valley and taste wine at Beaulieu, Beringer, and Heitz (at that time Heitz Cabernet sold for $3.00/bottle!) He remembers being blinded by the beauty of the valley and the romance of the small wine industry. At that time, Manny Sr. made a promise to himself to someday own land in Napa Valley. Today, Manny Sr. enjoys managing the vineyard with his small crew and spending time with Maria and their children and grandchildren.

“I gained a passion for wine while working as a journalist in Hungary and traveling through Europe. Instead of buying a small vineyard as a hobby, I returned to my native California to pursue a degree in viticulture and enology at Fresno State University. I settled in Napa Valley and began working in the cellar and lab as a winery intern, eventually assuming the role of associate winemaker. I worked with a number of smaller producers in custom production and consulting, from the vineyard through to sales. I’ve been the winemaker for Frias since 2004. I enjoy the seasons and cycles of winemaking, from bud break to harvest in the vineyard and crush to bottling in the winery.” – Todd Heth