2015 Franciscan Meritage Magnificant

2015 Franciscan Meritage Magnificant

2015 Franciscan Meritage Magnificant

Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California

Beautiful nose of ripe, perfumed cherry, with notes of vanilla, dark berry, sandalwood, and crème brûlée. Rich and inviting with a soft and full entry. Mouth-filling with a velvety texture of dark berry fruit, notes of black plum, cassis and mocha. Delicious supple tannins; the smooth finish lingers with notes of ripe cherry fruit, toasty oak notes and bittersweet chocolate on the finish. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec

Franciscan is one of Napa Valley’s most venerable wineries, reaching back more than three decades. Franciscan wines take their signature style – rich, vibrant flavors framed by supple tannins – from the ideal climate offered by Napa Valley’s cool, southern half and from the time-honored tradition of small-lot winemaking, blending from hundreds of barrels to craft fine wines that fully express the classic Bordeaux varieties.

Franciscan was founded in 1972 by a group of lawyers and doctors from San Francisco who decided to try turning their passion for wine into a business. In 1985, Agustin Huneeus, a Chilean exile who had built Concha y Toro in his native country, took over the helm at Franciscan. Huneeus refocused the winery on using the superlative grapes growing in its own vineyards, rather than sourcing from outside.

Today, Franciscan’s wines are crafted under the exacting eye of Janet Myers, who came to Franciscan in August 2003 as associate winemaker after working in the Margaret River region and Beaulieu Vineyard, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Louis Martini. The winery remains committed to its tradition of small-lot winemaking, with small batches averaging just 150 to 1,500 cases. The image of a hand-operated wine press on Franciscan’s logo and wine labels reflects this small lot approach to winemaking.