Franciscan Magnificat

Description

TASTING NOTES Deep scarlet with aromas of dark cherry, plum, baking spices and coffee that weave into complex aroma. The flavors open with ripe plum and black currant. Impressive structure readily apparent in a dense, full body with refined tannins. Extensive finish blends cassis with anise, tobacco, cocoa, and vanilla.VINEYARD NOTES The 2013 vintage gave us near perfect growing conditions which led to an early harvest. Spring conditions were warm and dry which led to an early bud break and very even set. Aside from one hot spell at the end of June, temperatures remained moderate throughout the spring and summer. With only 8 inches of rain from January through June, the vines had less green growth and an earlier turn to fruit development. Early October saw a major north wind event, bringing dry air off the arid northern CA interior down across the coastal areas. Humidity during October 3-7 was very low, single digits, with strong winds buffeting all parts of Napa. Thirsty vineyards prompted harvest to accelerate even more than usual. In 7 days we brought in ~24% of our fruit. The first Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville was harvested off a young block on September 13th with the last of the Cabernet Sauvignon hitting the hopper on October 22nd. As harvest progressed, we became more and more aware that the color and intensity of Bordeaux reds in the 2013 vintage would lead to a truly phenomenal vintage. – Franciscan EstateWINEMAKER NOTES Magnificat is one of the original Meritage blends in California, a wine Franciscan has proudly produced since 1985. Named for J.S. Bach’s masterpiece, it is crafted to be as seamless and harmonious as its musical namesake. Starting with over 200 small lots of red wine, Magnificat is created to showcase our finest Bordeaux blend of the vintage. Carefully assessing each lot as it ages in barrel, we create the blend with repeated trials and blind tastings. Depending on how the varieties express in a given year, the composition will be different, always shaped to provide consistency of style. The wine is founded on Cabernet Sauvignon, but true to Meritage, uses other Bordeaux varietals to give roundness, structure, and rich complexity. – Janet Myers, Winemaker