Deep Sea Conway Family Wines - Paso Robles Merlot 2011
Another selection from a wine brand seeking identity, or failing to capitalize on its heritage?
Another commentary on my study and observations on wine
branding. Traveling for business this week provided the opportunity to stop in a wine shop in a remote city. This always affords a chance to see different producers and labels that don't otherwise show up in our large metropolitan home market. Sometimes smaller producers can only fill the demands of a smaller market, or other reasons. So it was that I found
Deep Sea Merlot and
Deep Sea Chardonnay from
Conway Family Wines in Santa Barbara.
We've seen this label in secondary and tertiary markets from time to time. The rarity of the label may be exacerbated by the fact that some of their labels are no longer being produced, so finds like this are anomalies of the tail of the distribution chain. In some cases these offerings may be
Negociant labels, wherein they purchase fruit from growers, or even purchase excess wine from producers, and market them under their own private label (s).
I've written in these pages about the branding challenge faced by a Negociant, that of building affinity for a brand that is associated with terroir, or sense of place, for a particular wine, when the grapes are sourced from various anonymous growers that may change with each vintage.
How stark the contrast with
Chateau Laroze, showcased in last week's blog, where the land has been in the family since 1610, producing from the same facility under the same label since 1885. Such is the extent of the difference between 'old world' and 'new world' producers' and their wines.
We have found Deep Sea wines including their
Syrah and Cabernet but this was the first time seeing and experiencing their Merlot. I've written in these pages about this producer and those labels from the California Central Coast and one from Napa Valley. Generally, they have provided modest price, good price point
QPR (Quality Price Ratio) wines.
Their negociant practice is broadcast in their testament, "We purchase fruit from noteworthy vineyards in Santa Barbara, San Luis
Obispo and Monterey Counties, and the Napa Valley. We contract with
specific blocks, and actively manage the individual vines in that area.
We work with growers to formulate viticultural practices and the rows
are farmed to our specifications."
But, they also have their own vineyards as indicted by their website, “As with our estate vineyards, we concentrate on
quality rather than yield per acre, and we carefully hand pick the
grapes when they reach the right balance of flavor, acidity and sugar."
According to the Conway Family Wines website, the Estate is the thirty-five hundred acre
Rancho Arroyo Grande in the Central Coast region of
California, thirteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, where the coastal range meets the mountains
of the Los Padres National Forest.
When I search Cellartracker for Deep Sea Merlot, a pretty good indicator of the marketplace with over a half million collectors and a several million bottles featured, I find this producer,
Deep Sea Paso Robles Merlot, as well as
Deep Sea Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyard Merlot, although only one vintage of each. As a consumer of these wines, do I presume one (the first) is a Negociant offering while the latter is Estate Bottled?
As their website indicates, "
Deep Sea wines showcase the maritime
influence on grapes grown in California’s coastal climate. The grapes
for our wine are grown in vineyards close to the Pacific Ocean, (where)Vineyards along the California coastline are cooled by fog and ocean
breezes."
So it is with Deep Sea, a collection of labels but a conundrum in branding. I say this because we also hold Deep Sea Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course, the Deep Sea reference to proximity to the Ocean and its effects work for the Central Coast, and would work for the Sonoma Coast, but are a paradox when associated with inland NapaValley.
This leads me to the branding question; if the Conway Family owns spectacular lands with estate vineyards with such a rich heritage, why not leverage such and establish the pedigree and branding associated with terroir for your wines?
The personality of family association is strong for branding and building brand affinity and loyalty. Look at the number of premier labels bearing the family or 'place' name.
Indeed, the Conway Family feature a wonderful photo of their beautiful extended family of seven siblings and offspring.
So Deep Sea, or Conway Family Wines, is Deep Sea Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon an oxymoron, an anomaly, or a step along the path to establishing an evolving, maturing branding strategy?
I see on their website the inaugural release of another label - Conway Santa Barbara County Cabernet Sauvignon. I will look forward to tasting their
signature brand premium label release (s) and will watch their evolution with interest.
Meanwhile, we tasted the
Deep Sea Paso Robles Merlot 2009
Dark ruby colored, medium full bodied, bright full aromatics project the flavors to come - full, somewhat forward black berry and black raspberry fruits with tones of cedar, a slight mustiness and hints of creosote and earthy leather on a moderate, soft tannin finish.
RM 86-87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1847704
http://www.conwayfamilywines.com/
What is the real Deep Sea?
Rejoicing in our family gathering with son Alec, and V, in from NYC to So-Cal for a festive wedding weekend, we dined al fresco lunch at the Ritz Carlton Hotel overlooking Dana Point Beach. The 180 degree view of the Southern Orange County Pacific Coastline, perched high atop the cliff overlooking the surf befits the 180blũ named restaurant.
Of course this is deemed sparkling wine since Mumm Brut is from Carneros District at the bottom of Napa Valley where it meets Sonoma Valley. Brut is a blend of 58% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay, 8% Pinot Meunier and 6% Pinot Gris, essentially the same as authentic French Champagne.
Of course this is deemed sparkling wine since Mumm Brut is from Carneros District at the bottom of Napa Valley where it meets Sonoma Valley. Brut is a blend of 58% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay, 8% Pinot Meunier and 6% Pinot Gris, essentially the same as authentic French Champagne.
