Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 326,593 strong:

Register Today!

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wine Review

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Napa Valley, California, United States

Community Score:89/100

Community Reviews: 11

  Add My Review


Price: $29.95

Drink: 2014-2020

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Franciscan

Agent: Arterra Wines Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 92/100

A full-bodied Californian Cabernet with a long life ahead of it. Give this one some more cellar time, then decant 1-2 hours when you open it. Aromas of black fruit, violets, cigar box and smoke. Pair with prime rib.

This Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 was reviewed on April 15, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2020  2015  2014  2013  2006 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

  • BCLDB
  • 496174
  • $24.59 
  • Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Fleshy wine. Dark fruit, cassis, vanilla, tobacco and eucalyptus. Beautifully perfumed. Fairly tannic so this wine would obviously age well.
Shelley Harris rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This sauvignon has ripe cherry and smoky aromas followed by vanilla, cherry and plummy tastes. Would pair well with a tenderloin steak crusted in mixed crushed peppercorns.
Terry Jeans - Certified S rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A big, bold California Cabernet that is layers of delicious aromas and flavours. You can tell it comes from a warm region, but it is not overdone. It is well balanced with juicy fruit, acid and ripe tannins, to be enjoyed with a steak dinner. I enjoyed it even more the night after it was opened, after it had lots of time to breath.
Jon Steeves - Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

The 2012 vintage of the Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon yields from Napa Valley California 13.5% ABV and deep ruby red. Aromas of red and black berry, violet notes and a hint of cedar. On the palate this wine shows it's fruit character as well as floral elements as a full-bodied wine, boasting robust tannins. With a long finish and persistence of red fruit and earthy minerality, this wine is ready to enjoy now, could benefit from 5 years in the cellar and will likely peak at 10 years. Recommend grilled or charred / braised beef with this delicious red.
Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby red in colour. Nose is full of dark fruit, black cherry, fig, and cedar. A big wine, with a lot going on. Medium-full bodied, with big tannins for such a smooth wine, this is a cellaring candidate for a few years or decant for an hour prior to service. Enjoy with rib roast and roasted vegetables. Tasted February 2015. 90 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca
Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Ahhhh, I love the smell of this wine. Dark red and black berry fruit, sweet tobacco smokiness, a bit of a stewed charater but not jammy on the nose. Pretty luscious on the palate with the same bold red and black berry flavours thankfully repeating on the palate. Grippy medium+ tannins, lovely luscious acidity, a bold medium+ body and a smooth minted black plum finish.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Dark fruits like blackberry and black plum, mint, cigar box, and a slight touch of candied cherry. dark plums and blackberry dominate the taste, along with the grippy tannins and high acidity. The finish is long and dark with the acidity carrying through.
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby with cherry, currant, herb, vanilla and spice on the nose. Cherry and currant and a hint of eucalyptus and toasty oak. This Napa Cab is medium body with fresh acidity and fine grippy tannins that make an appearance on the finish. A good candidate for short term cellaring to soften the tannins or decant and hour and serve with salty/fatty cuts of meat - grilled rib-eye comes to mind.
Astrid Young - Sommelier ISG CAPS rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Big nose of red juicy fruit with cherry pie spice and vanilla notes. Sweet cassis dominates the mid palate with racy acidity and ripe tannins. A pronounced over-ripe dried fruit takes over the mid but dissipates quickly, leaving you with some oaky vanilla and lingering red berry notes; not the best i've had from these guys, but approachable and easy drinking overall. Enjoy with grilled chicken, salmon, even throw a little bearnaise on it, drink it up.
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Nose of lucious black cherry. The taste offers more cherry along with plum and some tobacco. The finish is dry and a bit chewy.

If you liked the Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Wander + Found Sparkling Wine
Sparkling CuveƩ Blanc Can

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 326,593 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,614

WINE
REVIEWS

326,593

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award