Concannon’s New Conservancy Series

Concannon Vineyards, founded in 1883, is the oldest continuously operating winery under the same family name in California. Today it is the fourth generation of Concannon still turning out outstanding wines. There is something to be said about longevity in any business and that is if their wines were not the finest for the price they certainly would no longer be around.
With the 21st century being a time of innovation, Concannon has introduced a totally new series of wine which they have dubbed the Conservancy series. Personally, we believe that there “ain’t no such word” in the English language as Conservancy, but we will respect their right to create it, as long as the wines are good; and they most definitely are.

Concannon Conservancy 2007 Petite Sirah ($15). This wine has great depth and character. It exhibits a rich nose of fresh berry fruit, and the flavorful palate shows blackberries, chocolate, mocha, and plums. Subtle notes of molasses, cedar, and ripe mulberries are accompanied by soft, creamy oak tones and a smooth, silky finish. This wine is both a credit to Concannon and the quality that expert winemaking can coax out of the petite sirah grape

Concannon Conservancy 2008 Chardonnay ($15). Almost everybody in the fine wine business is making a Chardonnay, so the competition is fierce. It is a wineries individual style that sets its wine apart from the others. The Concannon style for the Conservancy Chardonnay is to produce a wine that retains the full fruit flavor and aroma of the grape, while accentuating a creamy feel in the mouth and a warm toasty wood background flavor. The flavor signature they achieve displays layers of pineapple and citrus balanced by a near perfect acidity. It is a wine that exhibits all of the charm that a Chardonnay is capable of and with the name Concannon on the label you can be assured of its quality.

Concannon Conservancy 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($15). Like the Chardonnay, this Cabernet Sauvignon derives its popularity from the wineries signature style. Concannon Conservancy strives for big, concentrated aromas and flavors with enough tannin in the wine to assure that the Conservancy Cabernet Sauvignon can age for many years to come. The aromas are those of cassis and blackberries with a hint of oak and vanilla. The flavor accentuates black cherry and cassis with a distinctive under flavor of oak. There is plenty of tannin in this wine, but not enough to make it uncomfortable, yet more than enough to assure that the wine will continue to improve if aged for as long as twenty years.

Concannon Conservancy 2007 Merlot ($15). 2007 was one of the better years for merlot grapes, and that is very well proven by the Concannon Conservancy 2007 Merlot. Although the wine is blended with about 10% cabernet sauvignon, it remains soft and has an almost over abundance of fresh fruit flavors and floral aromas. The prominent cherry aroma and flavor shares its place into the structure of this wine with a mellow and delightful oak/cedar and vanilla component. A truly exceptional characteristic of this wine, that marks it as better than most, is the long and very fruity finish. We can very easily recommend this wine for our readers to try, it is superb.

Concannon Selected Vineyards 2009 Riesling ($10). This fruity, semi-sweet white wine has been made in the traditional German style; semi-sweet and accentuated flavor. The wine has the apricot and raisin aroma and flavor which is the signature flavor of all wines made from the riesling grape. The usually high fruit acid level, common to the variety, is purposely held in check so the flavor of the fruit predominates.

Concannon Selected Vineyards 2007 Shiraz ($10). This wine has an appealing, red summer fruit aroma which leads into the generous flavors of black cherry, plum and spice. Here is another wine that is capturing the hearts and palates of the American wine drinking public and the first sip will show you why.