Review: Wines of Franciscan Estate, Summer 2024 Releases
Franciscan was founded in 1972 by Justin Meyers and Raymond Duncan, and was christened as such in tribute to the Franciscan Friars who brought viticulture to California. Since then, the brand has built a venerable reputation for consistency and quality without escalating costs. The label also produces a critically acclaimed Meritage Bordeaux-style red blend, but that was regrettably unavailable as of press time. So today we’re enjoying three of the fab four: a Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Sauvignon Blanc, all readily affordable and listed for the sensible asking price of around $13 per bottle.
2022 Franciscan Estate Chardonnay – Juicy aromas of lemon zest and gardenias on the nose are backed up by notes of red apple, lemon, and peach on the palate, making for a bold-bodied Chardonnay, but definitely not in a bad way. There’s a subtle layer of buttercream vanilla peeking through towards the end, but the acidity keeps things in check and allows the fruit do most of the walking and talking. A solid Chardonnay that could be twice the asking price and still keep the cost-to-quality ratio level intact. A-
2021 Franciscan Estate Sauvignon Blanc – Bright and crisp without veering into syrupy territory, this Sauvignon Blanc manages to avoid pitfalls the varietal can be prone to falling into. Grapefruit and pineapple lead into notes of chamomile and passion fruit on the palate, while a finish evoking fresh cut grass and green apple conclude things nicely. Allowing this to chill well isn’t the worst approach to take with this bottle, especially as the summer months start to heat up. B+
2021 Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – Big with notes of blackberry, clove and Ceylon black tea, this Cab is amplified straight out of the bottle and doesn’t find a sense of balance among the three, even with about 30 minutes in the glass. Layers of plum, milk chocolate, and caramel unfold on the palate, but this never really manages to shake the dominant fruit influence, even on the finish. If uncorking, a generous amount of aeration and a big portion of red meat will assist in tempering this rather beefy monster. B
each $13 / franciscan.com
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