Cuvée St. E

Early seasonal rains fell, though short of average, but the timing was ideal for vine health and wine quality in 2016. Every phenological marker, from budbreak in spring to bloom and veraison in the summer, occurred 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal. The Cabernet Franc on the Home Ranch pushed from dormancy on the 18th of March during a period of 75 degree weather, following heavy rains that fell earlier in the month. Vine canopy growth propelled through the spring, bouyed by additional light rains in April and an ideal bloom period in early May. Tannin structure for 2016 was amplified by a warm veraison period beginning the third week of July. Good ripening weather brought all of our Bordeaux varieties in early, with this Cabernet Franc being harvested just 12 days into October, showing deep color along with the ripe, savory flavors and fine tannins this wine is known for.

CUVÉE ST. E

The inspiration for our J. Lohr Cuvée St. E comes from the Grand Cru wines of St. Émilion from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These memorable wines are composed primarily from Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with rare touches of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. We are given the freedom to emulate these great wines without the restrictions of varietal percentages, instead keenly focusing on the texture and complexity of the blend that nature delivers with each vintage.