Skip to Main Content

2020 J. Lohr

Chardonnay

October Night

Currently sold out

  • 90 Points

    Wine Enthusiast

    August/September 2022

Kristen Barnhisel standing and smiling with arms crossed in front of wine barrels

Pale straw yellow in color with exotic floral aromas of gardenia, honeysuckle, daffodil, ripe apple, and baking spices. This unique Chardonnay blend provides balanced and complex flavors of ripe orange, white nectarine, lemon cream, and a rich midpalate. The long finish offers a hint of vanilla and toasted oak.

— Kristen Barnhisel, Winemaker, White Wine

Wine Details

Cellaring

5 years

Best enjoyed now through 2025.

Facts Sheet

The Musqué clone, harvested in a single October night, is the backbone of this aromatic, distinctive Monterey Chardonnay wine.

  • Origin

    Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, CA

  • Fermentation

    Inoculated with the SB3 strain of malolactic bacteria

  • Barrel Type

    French oak - 36.3% new wood

  • Food Pairings

    A perfect pairing with crab cakes with a creamy orange reduction sauce, toasted hazelnut halibut, or seared scallops.

View Our Recipes

Composition Blend

  • 100%

    Chardonnay

Arroyo Seco AVA

Vineyard

The vineyards for October Night Chardonnay lie in J. Lohr’s Block 9 plantings in the Arroyo Seco AVA of Monterey County. This site, near the mouth of the Arroyo Seco River, provides the vines a slightly more wind protected environment. Comprised largely of Dijon Clone 809 Chardonnay - known in some circles as the Musqué Clone - these vines produce a very distinctive and attractive floral character. The soil is laden throughout its loamy profile with cobblestones that absorb heat during the day and radiate their heat after sunset, enhancing the wine’s floral aspects and richness.

Vintage

2020 was the third vintage in a row of cool spring and summer seasons. September fortunately began with some warmer weather to fully ripen the Chardonnay and, along with our typical winds, extended the growing season by three weeks. Each year, we work to fine-tune our farming and irrigation decisions during the growing season to optimize the balance and concentration of the fruit. Our 2020 harvest of Clone 809 Chardonnay (the backbone of October Night Chardonnay) was the latest on record, occurring on November 2nd at 25.5° Brix.

Back to Wine List
Back to Wine List

You May Also Enjoy

Certified California Sustainable
Arroyo Vista Chardonnay NV bottle

2023 J. Lohr $25.00

Arroyo Vista

Chardonnay

Certified California Sustainable
October Night Bottle

2023 J. Lohr $25.00

October Night

Chardonnay

Certified California Sustainable
Late Harvest White Riesling bottle

2023 J. Lohr $25.00

Late Harvest

White Riesling

A top down view of a bottle of J Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay next to spread of plates and fruit

Find us in Stores & Restaurants Near You

For almost fifty years, the Lohr family has been growing and crafting some of California's best-loved wines. We're proud to share our latest releases from our certified sustainable vineyards in Monterey, Paso Robles, and Napa Valley with you.

2 bottles of J Lohr wine on a picnic table

VIP Status: J. Lohr Club Membership

J. Lohr Wine Club Members are our True VIPs. Membership offers you priority access to reservations and winery-exclusive offerings.

Steve Peck taking a barrel sample from a bottle of wine
Riverbench Chardonnay being poured into glasses. Pasta dinner.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive our new J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay recipe book featuring delicious fall recipes that pair perfectly with Riverstone food-friendly, easy style.

By clicking “Submit” you are opting-in to receive our newsletter and to obtain the financial incentive described above. See Notice of Financial Incentive to read more and learn how to withdraw.