
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 of the first Bordeaux varietals to ripen, and although finicky, continues to surprise us with its consistent finish each year as one of our top wines.
CUVÉE ST. E
The inspiration for J. Lohr Cuvée St. E comes from the Grand Cru wines of St. Emilion from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These memorable wines are composed primarily of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with touches of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. We give ourselves 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.
TECHNICAL DATA
Origin: Paso Robles
Composition: 45% Cabernet Franc, 44% Petit Verdot, 5.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5.4% Merlot
Harvest Dates: Cabernet Franc - October 3rd, 2005
Petit Verdot – September 24, 2005
Process: Harvest late-morning, destemmed and crushed to stainless steel fermenters
Harvest Chemistries: 25.7º Brix average, pH=3.59, Total Acidity=0.45 g/100 ml
Vinification:
Yeast: Lalvin D254
Fermentation: Stainless steel fermented
Temperature: 87ºF
Extended
Maceration: 7 Days
Malolactic: Inoculation in stainless steel and completion in 100% New French oak barrels.
Maturation: 21 Months in 80% New French oak barrels
Barrel Type: 80% New French oak barrel Bordeaux Chateau Ferré-style barrels (60.9 gallons)
Forests: Center of France
Cooper(s): Tonnellerie Sylvain, Tonnellerie Vicard and Tonnellerie Bel Air, Bordeaux, France
Post-Maturation: Bulldog rack from barrels, membrane filtered to bottle
Bottling Date: July 16, 2007
Bottle Aging: 13 months in bottle prior to release
Bottling Chemistries:
pH: 3.65
Total Acidity: 0.65 g/100 ml
Alcohol: 14.99% by volume
Production: 1,200 6-bottle cases
WINEMAKERS COMMENTS
The 2005 J. Lohr Cuvée St. E is dark red-purple in color with aromas of sour cherry, coffee and violet, with touches of chocolate, vanilla, honey and toasted oak from twenty one months aging in new French oak barrels. The wine displays the true varietal nature of Cabernet Franc, with ample weight and mid to rear structure from both the fruit and the maturation time. On release, this wine will already have one year of bottle age but will develop additional complexity well into the future. In its youth, it should be enjoyed with pan-seared filet mignon, or ribeye steak with a berry-infused reduction sauce. We recommend decanting one hour prior to serving.
Jeff Meier, winemaker
Other products in the category CUVEE SERIES:
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 . . .