Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/780573
{ SOMMjournal.com } 87 McGrail 2013 The Good Life Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Hungarian oak) Similar to the French oak cuvée in the way it accentu- ates tannin texturing, while even more brazen in spice notes and a caramelized aromatic imprint. Following this barrel experience, we tasted the wines of other winery estates located within McGrail's east side "neigh - borhood," along or near Greenville Road. Catching our eye: Wood Family 2015 Para Las Amigas Chardonnay Crisp feel and citrus/mineral notes driving this sleek, barrel fermented cuvée. Bent Creek 2011 Syrah Bright, plummy varietal fruit, notwithstanding aggressive sweet/smoky oak that many would find compelling. Darcie Kent 2014 Field Blend Zinfandel Petite Sirah Co-ferment pushing the raspberry/cherry side of Zinfandel, buoyed by lip-smacking acidity. McGrail 2014 Casa de Vinas Cabernet Sauvignon In this non-estate single-vineyard bottling, sweet-toned varietal concentra- tion is restrained by a more moderately weighted body, giving a seamless, compact, beautifully-textured feel. We concluded our first full day in Livermore Valley with another eye-opening visit to an historic site: Concannon Vineyard's original Mother Vine Vineyard, consisting of head-trained Cabernet Sauvignon growing in the mid-valley's deep gravel bed, from cuttings originally sourced from Château Margaux by founder James Concannon in 1883. Pointing to a modest-sized home right next to the winery, John Concannon told us: "Four generations, as many as ten children at a time, including myself, were raised in that little house. John Concannon told us, "The signifi - cance of these old vines is that my father, Jim Concannon, worked with U.C. Davis in 1965 to plant this three-acre block for a research project. It's from here that Davis developed Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 07, Clone 08 and Clone 11. Out of the 88,000 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in California today, it's been estimated that as much as 80 percent of these vineyards are planted to clones coming from these vines. "Although this block represents a tiny fraction of our overall production, we'll con - tinue to cultivate it because it represents the values of Concannon Vineyard through five generations. We like to describe it as 'Preserving the past, enjoyed in the future.'" Following a hands-on exercise on the use of the refractometer to take sugar readings of grapes in the Mother Vine Vineyard, Concannon led us through a tasting of his Concannon 2007 Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon (in the appellation's traditional style, a finely matured, sweetly ripened, round and luscious varietal expression) as well as his Concannon 2010 Mother Vine Cabernet Sauvignon (a leaner, more herbaceous and edgier bottling, making it all the more interesting). John Concannon at Concannon Vineyard. Somm Camper Marie Mertz shows off grapes she just harvested from Concannon's Mother Vine Vineyard, planted in 1883 from cuttings from Château Margaux. Somm Campers try their hand at punch- down at Concannon. The Ellen Rowe Concannon house, dedicated to John Concannon's great- grandmother, who was known as "the entertainer of the valley."