2014 Frith Winery Grenache Napa Valley 750 ml

Rare Rhône-Style Red in Cabernet Land

Today we’re writing with an absolute steal from one of Napa Valley’s top vineyards. So even if you hear “Napa” and your mind goes straight to that one grape, you’d be wise to zoom in on this under-the-radar, pedigree-rich deal from the land of triple-digit Cabernet.

The 2014 Frith Grenache Napa Valley is a rare Châteauneuf-du-Pape-inspired blend of Grenache and Syrah crafted by White Rock winemaker Christoper Vandendriessche. Sourced mainly from the Hudson Vineyard best known for 99-point Kongsgaard Syrahs and Aubert Chardonnays, this is a blue-blooded California Rhône gem that would blow you away at full price. 

Frith is under the radar because they’re a passion project, and hype is not what they do. Advertising is not what they do. What they do is locate fruit from Napa Valley’s blue-chip vineyards, and put it into the deft hands of winemaker Christopher Vandendriessche. 

This score from the legendary Hudson Vineyard is ruby at the core, with classic Grenache notes of dark strawberry, spiced red plum, and black cherry, along with a peppery side note and a kiss of licorice. The palate has volume while being contained within an elegant framework, and after five years, this wine is hitting a beautiful stride. It showcases the true potential of Rhône varieties in Napa Valley.

We were lucky to get our hands on it: Of the 168 cases made, most went to restaurants like Corkbuzz and Pearl & Ash in New York, and Morimoto and Oenotri in Napa. But Vandendriessche held back 20% of the wine to see how it fared with some bottle age. After we tasted it—and realized it was fantastic—we swooped in on every last case we could get, knowing our California red lovers, plus our Grenache- and Rhône-loyalists, plus the folks looking for a screaming red wine deal would light up the interwebs to lay claim to what little we have. 

Christopher Vandendriessche has Napa Valley in his blood. He grew up running around in the vines at his parents’ White Rock Vineyards, and has spent the last two decades as White Rock’s winemaker. Before taking over those duties, he earned a degree in enology from the University of Bordeaux. He also worked at Bordeaux’s historic Château Pape Clément, as well as for legendary California vintner John Kongsgaard. 

From fruit sourced mainly from the celebrated Hudson Ranch in Carneros, Vandendriessche has produced an under-the-radar California insider gem: Supple and rich in red fruits and spice, Frith has won fans from coast to coast, and thanks to our relationships in Napa Valley, we were able to secure a tiny amount. Don’t wait around to claim yours, or expect to see another offer like this one!