We have another stunning vintage (the best yet?) of Franciscan Estate’s flagship red blend, the bold, dense and delicious Franciscan Estate 2014 “Magnificat” Red.

This wine is the sort that inspires conversation - about each aroma, each flavor and the plush, elegant feel that is the hallmark of this luxurious blend.

As with their previous vintages that we’ve featured, this wine is very dark and rich on the nose, with aromas of blackcurrant, sandalwood, raisin, blueberry reduction, violet, toffee, leather, sweet tobacco leaf and ground coffee.

On the palate, this wine is loaded with dark flavors of boysenberry, blackcurrant, grilled mission fig, violet, black cherry, clay pot, vanilla, chocolate covered black cherry, leather, coffee bean and subtle cured meat.

The 2014 vintage marks our showing of the fourth successive vintage of this spectacular wine. This vintage is the richest, most dense, most flavorful to date. Franciscan’s Magnificat still holds the honor of being our top-selling Meritage of all time and we’re sure that today’s 2014 will eclipse past showings.

The Oakville AVA, centrally located and adjacent to Napa Valley’s famous Rutherford AVA, was established in July 1993. Oakville is considered one of the most diverse AVA’s in the Napa area. Today’s wine is an expert blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, aged for 20 months in 70% new French oak.

.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

96 points - Meredith May, The Tasting Panel - “The royal carmine hue makes this wine look all the more stately. First introduced in 1985, this Meritage blend continues to cast a spell and blends all five Bordeaux grape varieties. The mélange consists of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cab Franc from lots off the 240-acre Oakville Franciscan Estate vineyard. The wine spent 20 months in oak. The aromas triggered a mountain forest: sage, jasmine, truffle and cherry wood. I salute this particular vintage for its fleshy, satiny texture with a firm structure. Flavors are layered with cinnamon, lavender, blueberry-boysenberry and caramel-mocha coffee.”

~

91 points - James Suckling - “A fruit-forward style but not one that’s overdone with plenty of plum and currant character. Full body and a velvety finish. Blend of mostly Cabernet with Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.”

~

90 points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous - “The 2014 Magnificat is one of the better wines I have tasted from Franciscan in recent years. Black cherry, plum, spice, menthol, licorice, plum, mocha, spice and dark leather all flesh out in the glass. Drink this succulent, expressive Cabernet over the next few years.”