The wine James Laube calls the "Best Cabernet Value" of the 2000 Napa vintage...

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Napa Valley, California $27
We bought a bunch price $19.99
What the Wine Critics thought: Wine Spectator 90 points
Quite reliant on jazzy oak, but it's also quite rich and concentrated, with appealing currant, black cherry, anise, mineral and leather notes, finishing with pretty coffee ground notes. Drink now through 2009. Tasted twice with consistent notes. JL

What we thought: This wine has a beautiful nose of cedary blackberry and black currant and a classy, medium-bodied palate with lots more smooth blackberry and currant fruit along with some supple tannins that show up on the finish. This Saturday night wine is a drinker or a keeper.

November 5, 2003