Conor Quilty Is Back! Two Stunners From Meadowbrook Winery

So yesterday I finally got to taste te fruits of Conor Quilty's labors from the last five to six years - an Albarino and a Whole Berry Cabernet Franc. Meadbrook Winery is set to open their new tasting room and release their first wines. I hae been a big fan of Conor for a long time. And it was amazing to see him pour and speak to his most recent vintages with this new winery.

For the uninitiated, Conor, who burst onto the New Jersey wine scene in 2017 or 2018, and put together a string of seasons that really wowed wine writers and wine drinkers. Before joining Unionville, he'd worked in the Alexander Mountains, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Coast, and McLaren Vale before planting his roots in the East Coast. Conor settled in for five years as the winemaker of Unionville Vineyards, overseeing farming and production and created one of the highest-regarded portfolios in the state. 

He left Unionville to help start Meadowbrook. Anyone in the wine business knows, as start up winery doesn't happen overnight. It's been five years waiting for these wines. Conor would show up at industry events and conventions, but was absent from public view as far as releasing new wines was concerned. It was a real loss, and Conor is an incredibly talented winemaker. Yesterday, he poured two new wines at journalist Paul Vigna's Annual Wine Summit. Industry professionals and media members alike were wowed.

Meadowbrook Winery Albarino 2023 is 100% estate fruit, leaf pulled on both sides, and harvested in mid-September. It was cold pressed, whole cluster, and then straight to tank for settling. It was inoculated with yeast, and after fermentation, it was aged in neutral oak puncheons. It was bottled a month ago. This was an exceptional Albarino, light, bright,  with a slight note of salinity, big notes of lemon, light apricot, with a big grapefruit finish. Great, zippy acidity, this wine was elegant and terrific. The fruit lasted a nice long time. A sophisticated wine. Exceptional.  

Meadowbrook Winery Whole Berry Cabernet Franc 2023 was also exceptional. Conor had released two unoaked, fresh Cab Francs while still at Unionville which were a big hit. This new release is a continuation of that concept. Hand harvested in mid-October of 2023, This is a 25% whole cluster wine, with destemmed whole berries making up the rest. It was inoculated with yeast, and after a long, slow fermentation, the wine then went through malolactic fermentation (on the lees in stainless steel) as well. The wine was then aged for five months in neutral oak. The first whiff is of cherry vanilla cobbler. Bramble. Notes of eucalyptus. With a long, long cherry finish. This is a soft approachable red, with soft tannins, and lots of fruit. A fantastic, easy drinking red. Cabernet Franc in the best, fresh, Loire-ish style. Absolutely fantastic!

Conor Quilty is back! Thank the wine gods. 

If you don't believe me, here's an article by Hank Zona

https://ediblejersey.ediblecommunities.com/drink/conor-quilty-never-left/