The Oakville AVA

Remember, the review I did on Franciscan 2005 Cabernet?

Well some or a majority of the grapes which went into this wine were from the Oakville AVA, the same "terroir"as the Mondavi 2005 Cabernet. The fact that these grapes come from this AVA should be clue to anyone considering their next Cabernet purchase........

Many of the Cabernet's from this AVA are just amazing on very consistent basis. There are many wineries which source their grapes from this AVA, but if you can pick up a bottle of Mondavi or Franciscan with the majority or some of the grapes sourced from the Oakville AVA for under $20.00, (this wine sells for $28.00 in the tasting room) um run don't walk and pick yourself up one of the best value Cabernet's from Napa. These are just two representations of the 2005 vintage I've tasted, which in my estimation is showing great promise.

"A wine which has a specific AVA on the label must contain a minimum of 85% grapes grown within the legal boundaries of the AVA."

In keeping with the promise not to be snobby or pretentious, I believe I need to define what AVA means. So I grabbed this from Wikopedia, an American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with defined boundaries ... This also is somewhat related to the topic of Terrior, which I am sure you may have heard tossed around a time or two, I will save that discussion for another time. The point I am trying to make is that wines (talking Cabernet here) with grapes sourced from the Oakville, AVA have a depth and panache. They are consistently good year to year and if you can buy it for under $20.00 a bottle you are getting great value! Cheers!!