
VINTAGE
Making the J. Lohr Cuvée PAU is always a pleasure. Fruit selection and direction are two of the key elements to making this wine a success, as is scouting the vineyard early enough to identify grape quality to ensure the fruit reaches its potential. The 2004 harvest was one of the earliest on record, with the grapes reaching their peak in mid-September. Usually, one lot of fruit always stands out as ‘the one,’ and 2004 was no exception. The grapes showed classic Paso Robles Cabernet characters of dark cherry fruit, but it was the hint of currant and the density of fruit that made this lot unique.
CUVÉE PAU
The Cuvée Series was created to allow J. Lohr winemakers a chance to blend small premium lots into cuveés that represent the basic varietals grown in three different areas of Bordeaux. In this case, our Cuvée PAU presents the major varietals and wine styling similar to that of the Pauillac region on the Left Bank. The major varietal in Pauillac is Cabernet Sauvignon, with varying amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot blended in. This wine however, is by no means intended to resemble a Bordeaux wine; rather, it is an attempt to showcase Paso Robles as a supreme influence in the world of Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year, the very best parcel of Cabernet grape is selected over the ‘biggest’ Cabernet, chosen from the vineyard which produces the wine with the most notable Paso Robles Cabernet characteristics.
TECHNICAL DATA
Origin: Paso Robles AVA
Composition: 95 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Total Acidity: 0.71 g/100 ml
pH at Bottling: 3.71
Alcohol: 15.64% by volume
Residual Sugar: Dry
Vinification: Stainless steel fermented
Malolactic fermentation in new French oak
Maturation: 22 months in new French oak
Bottling Date: August 2006
Production: 432 6-bottle cases
WINEMAKERS COMMENTS
The 2004 J. Lohr Cuvée PAU has a saturated red-purple color with excellent hues. The nose is dominated by dark cherry and currant fruit, with hints of chocolate and fruit pudding. It is undeniably ripe in complexion but carries a youthful essence that is supported by the toasty vanilla oak. On the palate, the wine has gobs of ripe cherry fruit that last throughout the palate. The strength of the fruit is complimented by a full palate structure that leads to a finely-textured finish. Moussaka pairs beautifully with this wine, however, if you don’t have a flare for Greek cooking, it is delicious with most red meats or eggplant-inspired dishes.
Other products in the category CUVEE SERIES:
2005 Cuvée St.E -- VINTAGE
The 2005 vintage proved a remarkable challenge for our J. Lohr Cuvée program. Despite a return to healthy rainfall, berry size was larger than average in 2005, which delayed ripening. We bled our best blocks of Bordeaux varietals to concentrate the flavors, but with the exception of Cabernet Franc, the sole cuvée to meet our quality standards was Cuvée St. E. Cabernet Franc typically is one . . .
2006 Cuvée PAU -- VINTAGE
The 2006 vintage saw a return to below-average rainfall for Paso Robles, and with it came smaller vine canopies, smaller clusters and smaller berries. But unlike the previous three growing seasons, once veraison started we had very mild weather conditions straight through to harvest, allowing color, flavor and fragrance ripeness to come together, simultaneously. At full maturity, we harvested . . .
2006 Cuvée POM -- VINTAGE
The 2006 vintage saw a return to below-average rainfall for Paso Robles, and with it came smaller vine canopies, smaller clusters and smaller berries. But unlike the previous three growing seasons, once veraison started we had very mild weather conditions straight through to harvest, allowing color, flavor and fragrance ripeness to come together simultaneously. Merlot quality from our 2001 . . .
2006 Cuvée St.E -- VINTAGE
The 2006 vintage saw a return to below-average rainfall for Paso Robles, and with it came smaller vine canopies, smaller clusters and smaller berries. Unlike the previous three growing seasons, once veraison started, we had very mild weather conditions straight through to harvest, allowing color, flavor and fragrance ripeness to come together simultaneously. Cabernet Franc is one of the first . . .