2003 Estates Los Osos Merlot 375ml

Purchase 2003 Estates Los Osos Merlot 375ml

VINTAGE

The 2003 winegrowing season was an interesting year for making quality Merlot. A fairly cool spring followed by a warm period around fruit set resulted in a below average set. As a beneficial result, the 2003 vintage offered its own natural form of crop reduction, producing smaller quantities of fruit per vine. In turn, these lowered yields allowed each plant to fully express its varietal character. The remainder of the season exhibited Paso’s characteristic warm days and cool nights, contributing to the quality of the vintage.

MERLOT
To add further complexity to our rich palette of fruit, we harvest our Merlot over a period of time and over a range of degrees Brix. By carefully selecting blocks offering the desired flavor profile, the first fruit harvested highlights the varietal’s classic red currant characteristic, while the riper fruit toward the end of the harvest adds color, weight and depth to the wine. This diversity is also emphasized in the array of clonal/rootsock combinations and soil variation. Our Merlot grapes are grown in Nacimiento-Los Osos, Arbuckle-San Ysidro and Arbuckle-Positas complex soils, on our estate vineyards in Paso Robles. These well-drained but relatively poor soils challenge the vines to grow, naturally limiting yields and producing fruit with beautifully concentrated varietal flavors.

TECHNICAL DATA
Origin: Los Osos, Paso Robles vineyard
Composition: 79% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
Brix at Harvest: 23.5-26.7° Brix
Total Acidity: 0.67 g/100 ml
pH at Bottling: 3.62
Alcohol: 13.72% by volume
Residual Sugar: Dry
Vinification: Stainless steel fermented
Malolactic in stainless steel and 30% in barrel
Maturation: 18 months aging in 25% new American and Hungarian oak barrels
Bottling Date: July 2005

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
The 2003 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot offers seductive dark red-purple hues with good density. Bright and luscious red cherry fruit dominates the nose with an enticing background of spicy toasted oak. A signature flavor of Bordeaux varietals grown in Paso Robles, the same lovely cherry fruit displayed in the bouquet continues in lively abundance on the palate. Complementing this fruit are notes of anise and vanilla toast. The end result is a wine with balanced layers and a long lingering finish. This wine is ideally suited to foods with a spicy flair, from Asian duck to spice-rubbed meats grilled on the barbecue.

Daniel Shaw, red winemaker

Purchase 2003 Estates Los Osos Merlot 375ml

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