Franciscan Estate Merlot 2006
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Aroma: Aromas of ripe cherries and dark plum are interwoven with anise and peppercorn. Pretty and complex, the jammy fruit is complemented by the earthy notes.
Flavors: Well-structured and elegant. Round and balanced, with a soft mid-palate and fine tannins. Rich cherry, sage, and blackcurrant flavors fill the palate, finishing with sweet notes of vanilla and tobacco.
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Franciscan was founded in 1972 by a group of lawyers and doctors from San Francisco who decided to try turning their passion for wine into a business. In 1985, Agustin Huneeus, a Chilean exile who had built Concha y Toro in his native country, took over the helm at Franciscan. Huneeus refocused the winery on using the superlative grapes growing in its own vineyards, rather than sourcing from outside.
Today, Franciscan's wines are crafted under the exacting eye of Janet Myers, who came to Franciscan in August 2003 as associate winemaker after working in the Margaret River region and Beaulieu Vineyard, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Louis Martini. The winery remains committed to its tradition of small-lot winemaking, with small batches averaging just 150 to 1,500 cases. The image of a hand-operated wine press on Franciscan's logo and wine labels reflects this small lot approach to winemaking.