Winemaker Notes
"For Magnificat, our goal is simply to make the best glass of wine possible," says Janet. "We pay no attention to variety percentages until we put the wine together. We can afford to do this because, frankly, our Merlot is as rich and concentrated as our Cabernet. In Oakville, that is saying something."
Blend: 50% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
Appearance: Deep garnet.
Aroma: Enticing aromas of dark cherry and black plum with a dark chocolate background and notes of sage and black tea. Appealing and complex.
Flavors: Elegant, well-structured mouthfeel, with cherries, rich chocolate, black pepper and vibrant plum flavors filling the palate. Very supple, with fine texture and firm structure, giving an immediately approachable richness. The finish is a seamless continuation of fruit and cocoa-like tannins.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.