J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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From the steeply sloped, high-elevation Beck Vineyard in Paso Robles’ Creston District, this smallproduction style-setter—released on January 1 in honor of Jerry Lohr’s 85th birthday—is on top of its game. To quote CEO Steve Lohr, “The 2018 J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is the culmination of everything we have learned about winegrowing. . . . It sets a new bar for Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.” Aged 20 months in 100% new French oak, it contains 7% Saint-Macaire (along with 1% Malbec, which explains some of its brightness); the rare Bordeaux variety is known for its savory side as well as its color and density. Bold notes of cherry liqueur kick off a broad, generous wash of red fruit with an inner light; the palate is concentrated with notes of roasted coffee, sweet tobacco, and balsamic.
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Wine Enthusiast
Toasty aromas of charred pecan, cocoa nib and espresso give a savory edge to the blackberry-paste base of this luxury-level bottling. Smoothed-out tannins carry hearty flavors of coffee, cocoa and coconut on the palate, where dark fruit flavors carry deep into the finish. Cellar Selection.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is packed and powerful. TASTING NOTES: This wine explodes with aromas and flavors of black fruit, tar, earth, and oak. Enjoy its power with a grilled, well-marbled ribeye. (Tasted: December 20, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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For fifty years and through two generations, the Lohr family and their team have been leaders in the California wine industry. Founder Jerry Lohr and his three children Steve, Cynthia, and Lawrence oversee one of the country’s most successful and trusted fine wine labels. With first plantings in Monterey in 1972 and then in Paso Robles in 1986, the J. Lohr team helped write the book on sustainable winegrowing on the Central Coast.
Today, J. Lohr farms more than 4,000 acres of estate vineyards in Monterey’s Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations, Paso Robles, and St. Helena in the Napa Valley. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines produces eight tiers of award-winning releases: J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, J. Lohr Cuvée Series, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Gesture, J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine, J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Monterey Roots, and ARIEL Vineyards. J. Lohr was honored with the 2020 Green Medal Leader Award in recognition of the company’s decades-long commitment to sustainability.
As Paso Robles, California has soared in number of wineries and gained in popularity, Cabernet Sauvignon has firmly taken root as the region’s number one varietal. Alone, it accounts for just over 40% of plantings and is grown throughout both the western and eastern sides of the appellation. Though viticulture here dates back to the 18th century, Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t emerge as a significant grape here until the 1970’s. But since then it has definitely made up for lost time.
Legendary winemaker and consultant Andre Tchelistcheff first recognized Paso’s potential with Cabernet Sauvignon in the early 1960’s. The calcareous soil and dramatic diurnal temperature changes of Paso’s westside particularly intrigued him. Today modern winemaking techniques and focused experimentation with various clones, rootstocks and vineyard strategies optimize the region's ideal combination of soil and climate to deliver the best fruit possible.
The results are evident in the glass. Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon can be mesmerizing, with rich aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry, graphite, toasty oak, vanilla and spice. The structure, balance and unbridled opulence of these wines impress from first sip to last. Not surprisingly, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons have steadily grown in reputation, not just in the U.S., but around the world.