Cuvée POM

A cool climate prevailed in the 2011 vintage, much like the 2010 season which had been the coolest in a decade. The crop was supported by low-yielding secondary shoots which grew to replace damaged primary shoots after a defining hard frost hit the Paso Robles area in early April. Above average winter rainfall fueled rapid vine growth after the setback of early spring frost. We saw fewer clusters with larger berries, which pushed this wine toward a softer tannin profile. Vineyard yield was down considerably, at just 2.6 tons per acre in this Merlot block. We used our standard practice to stop irrigation of the vines just after fruitset in early June and waited 8 weeks until the soil ran out of moisture in early August. This prompted seeds to harden and brown early, and perhaps more importantly it shifted flavor in the berries from herbal to fruity in this distinctly cool 2011 vintage.

CUVÉE POM

The inspiration for J. Lohr Cuvée POM comes from the Grand Cru wines of Pomerol in the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These legendary wines are traditionally composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with sparse additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Winemaking is given the freedom to emulate these great wines without the restrictions of varietal percentages, instead keenly focusing on the texture and complexity of the blend that nature delivers with each vintage.