The Right Bank of Paso Robles

The 2014 J. Lohr Cuvee St. E called the Cuvee St. E (for “Saint Emilion” on Bordeaux’s right bank) is, interestingly, all culled from J.Lohr’s “right bank” of Paso Robles since Highway 101 essentially divides Paso Robles into an Westside (left) and Eastside (right) as it’s been known for decades - notwithstanding the relatively new sub appellations formed in 2014.

When you break away from mass-produced wines you understand that every vintage offers you, the consumer, a unique snapshot into that vintage: the weather, those months when grapes on the vine grow into wine. I’ve tasted J.Lohr wines for years, written about them often and had the Cuvee St. E many times over many vintages. But the 2014 rises above the others. This Cuvee is the most balanced of their cuvee offerings with subtle fruit, oak treatment and acidity all sharing a focused goal - to make a wine worth of anyone’s dinner table.  You easily pick up black berry, blueberry, boysenberry, lingonberry and raspberry notes, but the fruit is muted, not being “fruity” meaning it’s not a candy apple one-trick pony. The acidity maintains itself through the glass - from the moment it enters your mouth - to the lingering moments after you’ve swallowed it. And the oak, while being evident, does not mask the fruit instead, like a proper scaffolding, supports it. 65% new French oak was the order for aging the wine, comprised of Cabernet Franc with some Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Malbec (7%) and a wee bit of Petite Verdot (1%).

ORIGIN: Paso Robles, California

PRICE: $50/ 750ML

ALCOHOL: 14.7%

SCORE:  92 POINTS