<p>Unique balance of terroir and climate is the ideal birthplace of this wine; this was confirmed in 1975 when the very first vintage of Franciscan&#39;s Napa Valley Cabernet was released. The results spoke for themselves &ndash; this was a distinctive wine of character and place. It was the first vintage to be released that included fruit from the Oakville estate. Franciscan Estate helped to put Oakville officially on the map as a powerhouse district for Napa Valley Reds.</p><p><strong>Look</strong> &ndash; Darkest garnet hues, with evenly concentrated color, from core to edge. After a hearty swirl, fat wine-hued tears run slowly down the inside of the glass.</p><p><strong>Smell </strong>&ndash; Lush and deeply layered, with deep aromas of black cherry, blackberry jam, blueberry, red plum and toasty oak. As the wine opens up, it reveals warm spice, Bing cherry, bramble, dried herbs and a hint of cocoa dust.</p><p><strong>Feel </strong>&ndash; Soft on the initial attack, then the wine becomes full-bodied and softly drying. Plush tannins and flinty minerals compliment the bright acidity. Very well-structured and very full, the wine becomes more elegant as it breathes.</p><p><strong>Taste </strong>&ndash; Decant for best expression, and be rewarded with full, ripe flavors of dark cherry and dark berry preserves. Blackberry and smoky blueberry are prominent jammy notes, at first. As the wine opens up, more complex flavors of black plum, oak, braised mission fig, brown spice, flint, dark cocoa and dried herbs emerge.</p><p><strong>Finish</strong> &ndash; Very long and very expansive, with dark fruit gradually yielding to oak, dark spice, minerals and chocolate. Plush tannins gradually dry the palate, reminding you to take another delicious sip.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong> &ndash; The 2007 Franciscan Magnificat is the finest follow-up to the previous vintages we have shown. This vintage is characterized by its darker, richer fruit flavors and more elegant mouthfeel. It is important to decant this big wine. We found that the more we spun the wine in our glasses, the more it really came to life, revealing fuller flavors and deeper aromatics. Decanting and swirling also really softened the wine which, on opening could seem a little hard-edged. Rest assured, these edges wear off quickly. Enjoy this wonderful blend with richer foods, grilled meats, or all on its own. Drinking beautifully, now, our tasting panel all agreed that this wine could be cellared for many years.</p><p><strong>71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>