Franciscan Estate, Napa Valley (California) 2009

What do you get when you consistently match up superb Napa Valley vineyards with a talented winemaker and modern viticulture and technology? A home run of a wine is what you usually get, and Franciscan’s Magnificat — a red Bordeaux-style blend — has had its share of those. It isn’t often that I can throw a $50 wine into the "value" category, but Magnificat certainly fits the description because it consistently holds its own in the company of Napa Valley reds that cost considerably more. This is a layered, meaty Napa meritage that has the structure and heft to improve over the next 10-15 years, but you also could enjoy it in the near term. It shows lovely blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, with hints of mocha and vanilla spice. This vintage is long in the mouth, with a lingering, spicy finish.