J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon

The remarkable J. Lohr Stairway Vineyard sits at the boundary of the Adelaida and Willow Creek Districts in the western portion of the Paso Robles AVA. Stairway was geologically formed from an ancient, uplifted seabed; its steep terraces and lime-laden calcareous soils define it as one of the great vineyard sites of the region. Close proximity to the coast keeps the growing season temperatures at this site cooler than much of the rest of Paso Robles. Hand-harvested grapes from Stairway were de-stemmed and berry-sorted, followed by a 15% saignée which brought concentration to the must prior to primary fermentation. An eleven-day maceration revealed luxurious color potential with ideal tannin extraction prior to pressing off the skins. Produced at J. Lohr's small-lot winery in Paso Robles, the wine was aged 20 months in French oak barrels (90% new) from coopers Berger, Ermitage, Le Grange, Sylvain, and Taransaud.