2011 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes
by:Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net





2010 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-06-13

I must be slipping. This is my sixth article of 2013, and yet only my first review of a Cabernet Sauvignon. I have often confessed that Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite of all wines, and especially the Cabs from the Napa Valley. So it is only fitting that the first Cab reviewed this year should be a good one, and this is the case with the 2010 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

This, like many Cabs today, is a blend featuring 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Syrah, and a 1% pinch of Malbec. The color is a dark garnet red with a fragrant nose displaying plums and dark berries. The flavors abound with currant, blackberry, and a touch of cherry. The wine was aged for twenty months in oak, so the finish is accented by rich tannins which may need a little breathing time, so as not to over-power the lingering big fruit ending, which sails on into the night.

You cannot ask for a better wine with steak than the Franciscan, with its big, rich, full-bodied character asserting itself with any grilled meat. This is a good example of a quality Napa Cab in the under thirty dollar range, and it will rival many Cabernets costing more. While it is very good right now, it will be even better by 2015, if you can wait a couple of years.  Norm's score is 89.

Score: 89
Price: $19 - $27

Norm

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http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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