Concannon Selected Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Since 1883, Concannon Vineyard has been a trailblazer in California wine. Their story started when James Concannon immigrated to America over 130 years ago. He was a maverick who challenged the status quo, and was one of the first to craft Bordeaux-style wines in California. Recognizing the striking similarity to the premier terroir of France, James began importing extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon vines directly from the renowned Château Margaux in Bordeaux to the Livermore Valley. Years later, in 1965, his grandson, Jim, collaborated with UC Davis in selecting cuttings from one of those vines for heat treatment. These dynamic, virus-resistant vines later became known as Concannon Cabernet Clones 7, 8 and 11 and played a key role in helping California Cabernet achieve international recognition. Today, they are proud that an estimated 80% of California’s Cabernet Sauvignon is planted with their Concannon Clones.
Covering the most vine acreage in the state compared to any other red wine variety, Cabernet Sauvignon produces as much wine in California as Merlot and Pinot Noir combined. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates, as well as the freedom of its winemakers, allow for an incredible range of wine styles from this single grape.
California’s most famous region—and especially for Cabernet Sauvignon—is the acclaimed Napa Valley. While Cabernet is successful throughout the world, rarely has it achieved such merit as it does from the Napa Valley. At this point the two are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.
Napa’s closest neighbor, Sonoma County, does an impressive job keeping up with Napa’s fame and glory. Alexander Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Moon Mountain and Knights Valley contribute to the lot of some of California’s top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lake County in California’s North Coast has become a focus for some of Napa’s more respected growers. From the Central Coast come iconic examples of classic California Cabernet; Lodi and the Sierra Foothills are great budget-friendly sources of amicable Cabernets.