More than thirty years ago, Gary and Marian Conway purchased land in Adelaida, west of Paso Robles, and six miles from the art colony of Cambria at the foot of Big Sur. Gary first beheld the idyllic beauty of the area aboard a helicopter moments before it crashed. Emerging from the wreckage, Gary exclaimed to the still stunned real estate broker, “I'm going to buy this place!” This is the stuff of legends; and, indeed, in the ensuing years the land and its supersoils and textbook microclimates are fast becoming legendary.
Adding to the legend, Carmody McKnight Estate Vineyards has been chosen as the only vineyard in the United States to be the subject of an extraordinary joint effort between John Deere Global Ag. Services; Motorola, Inc.; Earth Information Technologies, Inc.; and Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. This project is destined to usher in a new age in agriculture, agronomics, and earth science technologies.
Previously, the Carmody McKnight Vineyards have been the subject of extensive university program research with Cal Poly University due to the rarity of the soils derived from calcareous shale, limestone and igneous (volcanic) rocks as well as montmorillonite -- "the wonder soil." As this confluence of soil constituents are found nowhere else, the Carmody McKnight vineyards are particularly suitable for these innovative technological investigations and agricultural applications. For the first time, the centuries-long quest to understand “terroir” is at hand!
Three Carmody McKnight wines, in combination, create the “Cadenza” Meritage which won against all California wines in 2002's most prestigious of competitions – the California State Fair Wine Competition. The winery itself was voted number one on the Central Coast. Yes, supreme quality is ultimately about the soils and the climate; greatness is born in the vineyard. It is an astonishing fact that in the history of the vineyard there has never been the necessity to fertilize (a common regularity in all vineyards); yet the wine, as analyzed in the extensive Cal Poly University study, has been found to be the most mineral and nutrient rich in the world -- a “natural” phenomenon and the ultimate expression of “terroir” or...“vineyard magic!”
In 1995, the Conways produced their first wine in the cellar of their 130-year old farmhouse, following the planting of grapes in 1985. Carmody McKnight, from its beginning, embraced a personal vision and pursuit of the land and its gifts, not bound by commercial restraints, as exemplified in their hand-crafted, 100% estate blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc along with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a one-of-a-kind dessert wine, Kathleen.
|
“Day in the Country” 2006 Chardonnay
Day in the Country is a world apart, comparable only to the great French Chablis and the few natural Chardonnays that now exist in the United States. It is not about oak, oak, and more oak. It is about flavors unmasked, unleashed! The natural, wondrous flavors of Chardonnay, fresh flavors you might actually experience for the first time! Day in the Country is the ultimate expression of terroir!
Yes! Day in the Country eloquently expresses the new, brilliant style of Chardonnay. Our estate grapes grow in limestone, montmorillonite (the wonder soil), and volcanic soils, making our wines the most mineral and nutrient rich in the world! Limestone and montmorillonite are the two most important soil constituents in the renowned French vineyards -- known to contribute to wine greatness, and without them - wine inferiority. Do they exist in California? Almost nowhere. Not in Napa, nor Sonoma. Not in Santa Barbara. Limestone and montmorillonite (as well as the supreme volcanic soils) exist in the Carmody McKnight vineyards - in abundance!
Our grapes nourish in hillside vineyards -- a must factor for the great vineyards and the great wines. Most vineyards growing Chardonnay are planted in high-acid soils, making it difficult if not impossible to overcome the manipulations required for their Chardonnays. Chardonnay grown in limestone is free of these restrictions -- free to be a true Chardonnay!
The story and the style of this wine is a revelation, a breath of fresh country air for those seeking a way out of oak-dominated Chardonnay. This estate and limestone grown Day in the Country is a signature of the vineyard -- of the one-of-a-kind soils and sub-soils. This cutting edge wine is the most profound affirmation of the varietal -- "real" Chardonnay for the first time!
|
"Free Run" Estate Chardonnay
Our Chardonnay estate wine is 100% Free-run! Free-run, a secret behind the fresh, tropical-rich quality of our Chardonnays is the pure juice that flows free of the skins and seeds prior to pressing the fruit. Keeping the Free-run separate results in a cleaner, crisper, natural juice to ferment.
Free-run is rare in Chardonnay because it requires the rarest of vineyards. Free, free at last -- free of the clutches of excessive oak!
Notes: Rich, tropical fruit, pear, apple, fig, and melon. Clean and elegant in style, profound in structure, with minimal use of oak discreetly apparent. Always in balance; always a new tantalizing taste subtlety.
|
Estate Merlot 2002
Acknowledged as the supreme Merlot of the Central Coast, Carmody McKnight estate Merlot reminds us convincingly that Merlot is indeed one of the "noble" wines. This profound expression of the varietal reflects the richly endowed soils and textbook micro-climates of the world class estate vineyards of Carmody McKnight. As with our Cadenza, this estate Merlot is a major multiple gold medal winner and a wine of unusual depth and character... and always -- a sensual adventure!
Carmody McKnight Merlot is not only estate grown but is also 100% the varietal, year after year. This combination is almost non-existent in California but is at the essence of our approach to wine-growing and making, where the true, un-manipulated varietal experience is cherished and pursued.
A feast for the eyes with hues of vivid ruby-red and velvety purple. Incredibly lush with a sleek, elegant, concentrated array of herb-laced currant, espresso, and blackberry. Cassis and spice dominate a soft full, rounded entry. A provocative, expansive palate finishes with hints of cherries and dark chocolate, revealing nuanced structure and quintessential balance. Our estate Merlot redefines the Merlot experience.
|
Estate Pinot Noir 2005
Our Pinot Noir derives from revered clones and the ideal vineyard environment, suggesting the classic Burgundies in its clarity of varietal expression. The ultimate Pinot Noirs grow in limestone soils, rare to California but abundant in our vineyard. In James E. Wilson's Terroir, the author describes France's legendary soils, where for centuries limestone has been known as "the one soil constituent associated with wine quality, favoring chemical availability of mineral nutrients and immunity from acidity." "Limestone favors moisture retention, hence the feeding of the vineplant." Dr. Thomas J. Rice of Cal Poly stated at the recent Great Whites Seminar at Carmody McKnight that "Free calcium carbonate assures superb soil structure and porosity contributing to balance." Our limestone endowed soils provide the natural balance which is the key to the superior wines.
The most romantic of wines, our estate Pinot Noir is surprisingly opulent, yet elegant and velvety textured, with strawberry and berry-earthy savoriness in its overture. Blackberry and spicy plum vie for attention with black cherry and currant flavors, finishing in a final act of subtle tannins, a trace of toasty oak, and a silkiness that glides seductively over the palate.
|
Meritage Cadenza 2002
Carmody McKnight Meritage -- Cadenza won against all wines in the California State Fair Wine Competition, the Academy Awards of the wine world. The California State Fair Wine Competition is the oldest and most prestigious of the wine competitions. The legendary Cadenza achieved an unprecedented 6 awards, judged from 2,532 wine entries! It garnered a 98 rating, Double Gold, Best of Class (Meritage), Best of Region, and the top wine against all California entries!
The label on the Carmody McKnight Cadenza also won the highest of prizes in the major label competition -- the Orange County Fair, where all California labels are automatically judged. Out of 3,700 labels, the Meritage label (graphics and painting by proprietor Gary Carmody Conway) won the Double Gold and Best of Show! This is the first time that any wine won a double gold for its wine as well as its label in the top competitions!
The eagerly awaited 2002 Cadenza is here and promises to be another champion! The Meritage Cadenza for 2002 is the consummate blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc.
Gorgeously complex, a wondrous display of spicy, mocha-laced currant intermingling with ripe black cherry, cassis, sage and white chocolate. Deeply-layered, intense, with a long, complex finish.
|
Kathleen Late Harvest Chardonnay 2003
After dinner will never be the same.
Only from the limestone and volcanic rich soils and textbook micro-climates of Carmody McKnight estate vineyards can late harvest find new definition.
This is a taste and sensual experience that is not soon forgotten -- a true late harvest created in the vineyard.
Deep golden color, vibrant, pure fruit aromas of ripe apricot, Asian pear, tangerine, and pineapple. The finish is aromatic and lingering. Luscious yet wonderfully fresh and lively, and always alluring!
|
|
