Carmody McKnight brightens the future of wine. The Big Sur Estate epitomizes the “Natural Wine” movement creating luxury wines nearly impossible to be duplicated on any viticultural or oenological level.   

Adding chemicals for flavor and commercial consistency may do a good job mimicking nature but they are chemicals that will not vary and unfortunately toxic. 

Opacity

The chemical-added assault in most red wine is evident at first glance. How opaque is the wine in the glass? Can you see to the bottom, even read text through the glass?  Or so dark you can barely see light through it?  If so, it usually means the wine required added color.  This speaks loud and clear to inferior grapes and a resultant wine dependent on additive chemicals to be drinkable.  What is there to judge after that?  Being clever with chemicals?

When attending a live symphonic performance each movement offers its own sensory experience. Tasting a natural luxury wine provides a sensory event which will always be different…and pure. 

The tasting notes below describe each movement or session which delivers separate and diverse expressions of the varietal and its endowment of virtuoso terroir.

Cadenza: A musical passage, often improvised; a solo demonstrating superb skill. Cadenza is originality imbued with passion.

A classic Bordeaux blend, Cadenza was the top winner from over 2,500 entries in the most prestigious competition of all – the California State Fair Wine Competition. This annual event includes over 100 judges specifically tested for their wine judging expertise.  Cadenza garnered an unprecedented number of awards including: Best of Show; Double Gold; Best Bordeaux Varietal Blend; Best of California; Best of Region and highest points points awarded, including over 20 perfect scores.

Absent locked-in chemical flavors, taste-judging a pure, natural wine should ideally be pursued on multiple separate sessions. This allows the complete experience of passing through the symphonic Cadenza.

Session One – 15 minutes after opening

A clear, medium garnet color reveals minimal intervention and slow, deliberate oxidization.
Pronounced aromas of acacia, cooked red currant, bramble and stewed red plum persist.

Session Two – One Hour after opening

Color changes slightly darker in the glass. Intense secondary flavors delight the palate with cloves and white pepper. Ripe, smooth tannins balance pronounced fruit and bright acidity and medium alcohol.

Session Three – One day after opening

Pronounced tertiary aromas and flavors reveal maturity, with dried cranberry, tobacco, and caramel.

The full body, velvety tannin holds layers of fruit with lively acidity before giving way to a long finish of black cherry and semi-sweet chocolate.

Harvest Date: November, 2010
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Block 5: 4 tons/acre
Oak: 100% neutral
Aging: 4 Years in Barrel
Case Production: 320
Drink: Now – 2025

Difficult to find a wine naturally created or chemically concocted that can replicate this superbly long-aged and rarefied estate Cabernet. This garnet-hued gem is a chameleonic marvel that always yields a fascinating luxury experience.

2010 Au Natural aged for over three years in neutral barrels – with minimal intervention. The unwavering level of patience in the natural straw-bale winery is part of the reason Carmody McKnight has earned a global cult following.

Every sip brings fathomless depth and luxurious, constantly evolving layers of exoticism that introduce you to a new spectrum of flavors. Absent locked-in chemical flavors, taste-judging a pure, natural wine should ideally be pursued on multiple separate sessions. This allows the complete experience of the delightfully diverse natural characteristics of this top of the class Cabernet.

Session One

Pronounced and complex nose reveals primary aromas of ripe black plum, cooked redcurrant, bramble, raisin, roasted green bell pepper, licorice, menthol and fresh mint.

Session Two

Light secondary aromas and flavors tantalize, including baked brioche.

Session Three

Tertiary aromas and flavors of warm walnut oil, toasted pecan, cloves, dried cranberry, cooked red plum, tar, leather, earth, chocolate and forest floor.

The medium body, ripe tannic structure exists in perfect symmetry with a medium level acidity, remarkable for depth and complexity yet with balance and restraint. A long finish lingers forever with dried cranberry, leather and chocolate.

Harvest Date: November, 2010
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Block 5: 4 tons/acre
Oak: 70% French, 30% American, neutral
Case Production: 320
Drink: Now – 2026

Art of the Vineyard Pinot Noir is a natural wine from a natural vineyard created in a natural winery. That is an astonishing triumvirate ~ incredibly rare.

What does one do if discovered that a special vineyard is the only one in the Western Hemisphere that shares the remarkable and mandatory soils for greatness as those of Romanée-Conti? Limestone and the wonder soil calcium montmorillonite.  And the block is planted with cuttings derived from Romanée-Conti. What then?! Of course! Create a remarkable wine!

Here it is: Art of the Vineyard Pinot Noir!

Romanée-Conti was one of the last Burgundy vineyards to be replanted with grafted mutated vines after the phylloxera epidemic struck. The final vintage of pre-Phylloxera Romanée-Conti was 1945, only 600 bottles were produced. Bottles claimed to be Romanée-Conti,1945, have been traded over the decades but almost all forged.  A real bottle meaning from the real vines before 1945 was the most sought-after wine in history and would be priceless now.  Art of the Vineyard is that rare to be priceless, as it possesses all the essential qualities of Romanée-Conti and more!  Learn about the more.

Absent locked-in chemical flavors, taste-judging a pure, natural wine should ideally be pursued on multiple separate sessions. This showcases the complete interpretation of the artistry that stands the test of time.

Session One

Pronounced nose reveals primary aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, cooked red cherry, passion fruit, prunes, rose and orange peel.

Session Two

Medium intensity secondary aromas and flavors of pastry cream and resinous.

Session Three

Tertiary aromas and flavors reveal bottle maturity with well defined hazelnut, fig, dried cranberry, mushroom and wet leaves.

The full body, velvety tannin holds layers of fruit with lively acidity before giving way to a long finish of black cherry and semi-sweet chocolate.

Harvest Date: October 2, 2010
Block: East Pinot Noir
Neutral Barrel Aged: 48 months;  Unfiltered, Unfined
Bottling Date: September 12, 2014
Alcohol: 13.8%
Case Production: 112
Drink: Now – 2025