Fritz Underground Winery, in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, was founded by Mr. Jay Arthur Fritz in the late 1970’s with a viticultural passion for sustainability, quality, and tradition. Today, Jay’s son Clayton runs the winery with the same dedication and enthusiasm to these core values, and it really shows in the wines they produce.
Fritz 2012 Zinfanel
Grape(s): 100% Zinfandel
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of raspberries and plums unfurl into notes of spice and cassis on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of bramble fruit and cherry with accents of pepper and dark chocolate. Ample fruit and welcoming highlights of spice make this an enjoyable wine. 1,400 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Fritz 2012 Malbec
Grape(s): 100% Malbec
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries mingle with suggestions of earth and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate offers flavors of blackberry, cherry, and tart blueberry that coalesce with hints of baker’s chocolate and minerals. Dark, rich flavors and supple tannins make this a very approachable Malbec. 100 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Fritz 2012 “Estate Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 55-60
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of blackberries, currants, and black cherries come together with traces of cocoa and toasty oak on the nose. With a sip, flavors of currant and bramble fruit emerge, along with accents of dark chocolate and campfire spice. Nicely structured and rich, this is an ideal Cab for a juicy steak. 120 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Fritz 2012 “Propietor’s Red” Wine
Grape(s): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon & 40% Malbec
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 45-50
Tasting Notes:
Blueberries, cherries, and plums aromas open up into notes of gram cracker and sweet spice on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of black cherry, plum, and blackberry that flow into suggestions of clove and all-spice. A supple, lush wine with velvety tannins, fans of dark, fruit-driven reds will enjoy this bottle
Rating: 88
Fritz 2013 Rosé Wine
Grape(s): Zinfandel, Malbec, & Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
Notes of strawberries, cherries, and watermelon meld with nuances of cola on the nose. Flavors of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry interweave with hints of sassafras root and minerals on the palate. A supple Rosé, with a welcoming acidity, enjoy a bottle with grilled salmon. 160 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Fritz 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Grape(s): 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of tropical fruit, tart apple, and citrus blossoms greet the senses. Green apple, tangerine, and lime flavors emerge on the palate, along with highlights of fresh minerals. A crisp wine, with a fresh acidity, fans of effervescent whites will enjoy this bottle. 1,750 cases were made.
Rating: 88