The 2009 Concannon Conservancy Crimson & Clover Red Blend is 50% Petite Sirah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 10% Zinfandel sourced from vineyards in the Livermore Valley AVA near San Francisco in Northern California. Concannon Vineyards have quite a history, the founder, James Concannon planted the vineyard from Bordeaux grapevine cuttings in 1883, they hired the first female winemaker in 1950 and in 1961 they introduced the Petite Sirah grape to the United States. Concannon Conservancy wines are sourced from an area of older vineyards that are protected from urban sprawl. The Crimson & Clover Blend is aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months and the alcohol content is 13.7%.
The color is an opaque purple. The nose is fresh raspberry, oak spice, blackberry jam, vanilla and sawdust. There is a nice mixture of juicy fruit flavors and spice. Raspberry and strawberry upfront, followed by sweet cigar tobacco, cinnamon and dark chocolate. The mid-palate is blueberry and creme brulee along with gingerbread spice. The tannins are smooth and the acidity comes thru on the finish where raspberry and vanilla flavors cause your tongue to tingle.
Is the Concannon Conservancy Crimson & Clover a wine that you can drink over and over? Yup, especially if you found it like I did, selling at the local supermarket for $6.99, which is less than half its usual selling price. A solid Petite Sirah based blend with flavors and quality depth and structure, drink it with steak or roasts and it will do real well on its own.
