J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines: Wines

2005 J. Lohr Carol's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2005 vintage in the Napa Valley started out as a very wet and cool growing season, and dire predictions about vintage quality had vineyard managers and winemakers extremely concerned. Additionally, it appeared to be an above average set, with vines burdened by heavier crops than normal. Despite these rather difficult conditions, 2005 proved to be a vintage of very consistent weather – once summer began in June with mild but warm temperatures throughout July, August and September. The expected Indian summer didn’t materialize either, and allowed us to calmly wait for optimal ripeness of Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet and Petite Verdot. We began hand harvesting on October 13th, finishing on the 25th with excellent color depth and currant fruit flavor in both varietals, at an average of 26.7º Brix..

Vineyards
Carol’s Vineyard lies in northern St. Helena, comprised of 16.4 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon (Clone 337 on 3309 rootstock) and 4.3 acres of Petit Verdot (Clone 400 on 3309 rootstock). The well-drained, gravelly, sandy loam soil and Bordeaux- like climate of the Napa Valley is ideally suited to produce luxury-quality Cabernet fruit.

Technical Data
Origin: J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Composition: 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22.5% Petit Verdot
Harvest Dates: October 13th to 25th, 2005
Process: Harvested, destemmed and crushed to stainless steel fermenters
Harvest Chemistries: 26.9° Brix average, pH=3.68, Total Acidity 0.37 g/100 ml

Vinification:
    Yeast: D21
    Fermentation: Stainless steel fermented
    Temperature: To 90°F
    Extended Maceration: 17 days
    Malo-Lactic: Inoculation and completion in French oak barrels
    Maturation: 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels
    Barrel Type: 80% new French oak Bordeaux Chateau Ferré-style barrels(60.9 gallons)
    Forests: Center of France
    Coopers: Sylvain, Libourne, Demptos, St. Caprais de Bordeaux, SequinMoreau, Merpins
    Post-Maturation: Rack from barrels, filter to bottle

Bottling Numbers:
    pH: 3.75
    Total Acidity: 0.67g/l00ml
    Alcohol: 14.6% by volume
    Residual sugar: Dry

Winemaker's Comments
Dark, youthful purple-red in color, the 2005 J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has elegant aromas of red and black currants and cherries, with a complex bouquet of vanilla, allspice and toasty oak. Carol’s Vineyard delivers a dense, yet incredibly supple structure reminiscent of Bordeaux’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines. Meant for a minimum of five years of cellaring before enjoying with a pan-seared filet mignon with a Cabernet-peppercorn reduction sauce.

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