Cuvée PAU

Generous rains fell prior to the 2017 vintage, ending an unprecedented 5-year throughout California. Budbreak occurred a few days later than normal in 2017, which is typical for wet years. Crop set was light, with yields on this Cabernet block in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles reaching just 2.3 tons per acre. This late-ripening block of Cabernet Sauvignon was more than eight weeks away from harvest during a September heat wave, so it came through the heat spike unharmed. In this vintage, we saw a higher level of tannin structure and flavor ripeness, echoing the string of great vintages from ‘12 to ‘14.

CUVÉE PAU

The inspiration for this blend comes from the Grand Cru wines of the Pauillac district of Bordeaux, which are traditionally composed from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with occasional acccents from Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Our J. Lohr winemaking team is given the freedom to emulate these great Bordeaux wines through the prism of our world-class Paso Robles fruit.