The SOMM Journal

August / September 2018

Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1011938

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 77 of 124

{ SOMMjournal.com } 77 SEVEN OAKS Named for the original Seven Oaks Vineyard located near the winery, this wine is pri- marily composed of fruit from J. Lohr home ranch estate vineyards and satellite vine- yards in the Paso Robles AVA. Roughly 60 percent of its grapes come from these sites, yet that amount continues to increase as J. Lohr expands its acreage. Peck adds that the accessible, dense, and soft Seven Oaks Cabernet is a delicious everyday wine that's all about enjoyment. "I take an enormous amount of pride in Seven Oaks. This current vintage received 90 points and it's under $20," he says excitedly. Augmented by Peck's attention to detail in the cellar, J. Lohr's advantageous farm - ing practices are further enhanced by its elaborate barrel program. The winery orders nearly 10,000 new American oak barrels annually for Seven Oaks—some from its "bread-and-butter" coopers and others from test lots. In a way, Seven Oaks could be likened to a dish with layers of flavors crafted by an experienced chef. In this case, there's more than one cook in the kitchen: President/Di - rector of Winemaking Jeff Meier and Assistant Winemaker Brenden Wood have worked alongside Peck for more a decade, tasting through innumerable barrel lots to perfect their oak program and create the final blend. In part, this is exactly what sets J. Lohr apart: the expe - rience and longevity of its team. "I've worked for many different wineries over the years—this one is really unique," says Senior Marketing Director Dave Muret. "Jerry is a true industry icon, but he constantly talks about his team. Every - one you meet here shares his and the family's long-term vision: a decades-long, vintage-to-vintage pursuit of quality." J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon ($17) Crisp, plummy red fruit with subtle baking spice and soft tannins framed by fresh acidity. —M.B. The view overlooking the original home ranch that surrounds the J. Lohr Winery in the Estrella District AVA. The ranch serves as a major source for J. Lohr's popular Seven Oaks release. J. Lohr's Lone Napa Valley Property Honors Jerry Lohr's Late Wife J. Lohr's Carol's Vineyard in Napa Valley's St. Helena AVA is named for Jerry Lohr's late wife, who died in 2008 after a battle with breast cancer. To honor her legacy, the Lohr family has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation for the past ten years, donating a portion of every bot - tle sold of Carol's Vineyard wines. This campaign, called Touching Lives, has to date helped fund more than 6,500 mammograms for women who couldn't other - wise afford them. The Napa Valley location of Carol's Vineyard tends to produce a more robust expression of Cabernet with firmer tannins and a more angular structure than the winery's Paso Robles sites. Although Hilltop and Seven Oaks see small amounts of Petit Verdot and other Bordeaux blenders, Carol's Vineyard instead features a significant amount of Petit Verdot (21% for the 2014 vintage). J. Lohr Red Wines Winemaker Steve Peck says he enjoys mar - rying Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon, as it allows for better oak integration while increasing the wine's blue-fruit character and acidity. "Petit Verdot opens up a window into that savory blend and really helps showcase the oak," Peck explains.

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of The SOMM Journal - August / September 2018