2004 Franciscan Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California. 13.5% alcohol. $24.99 at Beekman, Glen Rock, NJ. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Deep ruby red color, deep hue, relatively restrained aromas of fruit, spice and earthen notes, very good fruit tastes with spice, earth, chocolate and tobacco, medium mouth feel, light oakiness, well evolved tannins with some indication that the wine could develop further, nonetheless it's drinking very well now, long finish with very good fruit and spice notes. A very pretty wine, accessible and fun. 3*+.
Notes:
Winery: http://www.franciscan.com/ 97,000 cases made.
Beekman: Franciscan was founded in 1972 by a group of San Franciscan lawyers and doctors, but they soon sold it to Raymond Duncan and Justin Meyer who also owned Silver Oak. Duncan and Meyer sold Franciscan to the Peter Eckes Company of Germany in 1978, but they retained a vineyard parcel for Silver Oak, and Meyer stayed on as president of Franciscan. Agustin Huneeus, a Chilean exile who had built Concha y Toro, took over in 1985. Franciscan uses the Estancia label for its Alexander Valley fruit and the Franciscan label for its Napa wines. Winemaker Janet Myers (no relation) previously worked at BV, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and Louis Martini.