Cuvée PAU

Thanks to a “Miracle March,” the 2018 growing season will be remembered as the fourth in a string of normal rainfall years in Paso Robles with over 70% of the season’s precipitation being accumulated in a 3-week period beginning the first of March. That kicked off a rare vintage of exceptional quality and yield. A nice stretch of warm weather in May assured a good bloom and fruit set on the developing clusters. It was followed by an unprecedented 46-day heat spell where we saw an unthinkable 38 days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the region. This had the effect of extending the growing season as vines shuttered their stomates and slowed photosynthesis as a defense against the high temperatures. Cabernet Sauvignon for this blend was hand- picked in late autumn, on October 27th, with pristine expression of varietal character.

CUVÉE PAU

The inspiration for this blend comes from the Grand Cru wines of the Pauillac district of Bordeaux. These legendary wines are composed primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with occasional accents from the other traditional Bordeaux red grape varieties. Our J. Lohr winemaking team is 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.