Wine Reviews For The Average Wine lover: 2022 Franciscan

There are certain names that to me at least, represent quality. In this particular case, we are discussing wine so I will stick to the names that I consider to be quality in that arena. Names such as Sattui, Peju, BV, Pine Ridge, Matt Parish and Stags Leap, are just some of the names that come to mind when I think of high quality wines. Unfortunately, neither of these wines are available in my area and I have to drive about an hour to purchase them but that's okay as they represent wines that are for the most part, very simply amazing. These wines also represent great memories of having an amazing time at the wineries themselves. Memories such as these come into play when we hit up the wine stores and also possibly even dictate what wineries we specifically look for when shopping, at least I know they do for me. Some things in life are after all, worth searching out guys and I am sure we all know that wine is one of those things. Right now, I want to talk about one winery whose wine I have always considered to be quality and that is the Franciscan winery, let's get into this review now.

Today I will be discussing the 2022 Franciscan - Sauvignon Blanc which I paid $12.99 for. The wine comes in at 12.8% alcohol and the bottle is cork sealed. The bottle simply says that the grapes for this wine come from California which means anywhere in California.

On the nose here, I am getting light lemongrass and a hint of peach which comes in on the back-end. Overall there is nothing impressive or noteworthy here on the nose.

Now, on the palate there is a different story, the wine is good folks and I am not disappointed in the slightest bit. Yes, lemongrass is here guys as expected but, it is very well controlled, this is not a New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc I promise. Nectarine is here as well but it also is not over the top by any means guys. I am getting this nectarine on the mid-palate and while it is on the lighter side, it is enjoyed nevertheless. To me, what really sets this wine off is a beautiful sense of dryness... of cleanness. There is also a juiciness to the wine without any doubt and that juiciness is... beautiful. Nothing overblown here and nothing to detract from the fact that this is a well made wine. Green Apple is here as well and it is intermixed wonderfully. I think his note is the one that brings that brightness i mentioned earlier in the wine. Acidity wise the wine presents the note at low to medium in its presentation but at the level the wine is offering the acidity up, it simply works, it is nice. I know there are those who demand high acidity in their wines however, if this particular wine offered that level of acidity up I feel it would be out of balance for sure. There is a floral note here as well and it is yet another super positive aspect of the wine guys. This florality note is embedded into the wine and is a base that everything else in the wine is carried on.With all this being said, let's head over to the conclusion section of this review and wrap it up.

Here we are guys, reviewing a rather inexpensive, American, Sauvignon Blanc. How good could the wine be folks? Well... let me tell ya... the wine is indeed, good. Balance... the wine is in balance guys. I don't know who the winemaker is but he or she, is talented for sure. Balance is an aspect of this wine that really is a selling point. The wine manages to express itself just a a great Sauv Blanc should and also knows a good bit about how to show itself without overdoing itself. One last thing here, in my mind at least, the fact that the winery is now owned by E& J Gallo has really brought this winery down from the prominence it use to hold and I think that is sad. Aside from this, on The Desert Wine Guy rating scale, I am giving this wine a very solid 94 points.