Franciscan Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon California (2021)

Product Description

Sourced from some of California’s finest vineyards, our Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon is full bodied with notes of dark cherry and toasted caramel. While it is bold and plush, our Cabernet is not overpowered by oak or tannins which allows the fruit to shine through. It also allows the wine to pairs well with a wide variety of cuisines - anything from pho to your favorite gourmet burger.

Producer Description

Franciscan Estate was founded in 1973 by a group of San Franciscans who decided to try turning their passion for wine into a business. However, their dream was short-lived and in 1975, they sold Franciscan to Justin Meyer and Ray Duncan, business and winemaking partners who also were launching Silver Oak. In 1978, the Peter Eckes Company of Germany purchased the Franciscan Estate vineyards and brand. Duncan and Meyer retained a parcel of the original property for Silver Oak, and Meyer stayed on as winemaker and president of Franciscan. In 1985, Agustin Huneeus, a Chilean exile who had built Concha y Toro in his native country, took over the helm at Franciscan Estate. Huneeus refocused the winery on the superlative grapes grown in its own estate, initiating replantings and other vineyard improvements. Franciscan Estate quickly earned a reputation for innovation. In 1985, Huneeus hit the road with fellow vintners Robert Mondavi and Joseph Phelps, presenting California’s first red wines made as a blend of the traditional Bordeaux varieties. California law only allowed these mavericks to call their exquisite offerings “table wine,” so they launched a national competition for the category that resulted in the winning name: Meritage. Today, many of the finest wines from Napa Valley are blends of the Bordeaux varieties including Franciscan’s MAGNIFICAT. Today, Franciscan Estate’s wines are made under the exacting eye of Janet Myers, who came to the winery in August 2003 as associate winemaker. Previously, Janet worked in Australia’s Margaret River region and at big Cabernet producers Beaulieu Vineyard, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Louis Martini. Janet was promoted to director of winemaking in August 2005, joining a lineage of legendary Franciscan winemakers such as Justin Meyer, Greg Upton and Agustin Huneeus.