2015 J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah
-
Anthony Dias Blue, San Francisco International Wine Competition
Varietal aromas of blueberry and black tea are lifted by barrel aging on lees in a 60/40 blend American and French oak barrels. A touch of white pepper on the palate opens up slowly to reveal baking spice and pomegranate fruit on the finish.
— Steve Peck, red winemaker
Wine Details
-
Composition Blend
-
93%
Syrah
-
2%
Roussanne
-
1%
Viognier
-
4%
other red varieties
-
-
Origin
Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, CA
-
Cellaring
Improving texture over the first 2 years in the bottle, with the capacity to hold another 3 years or more.
5+ Years -
Food Pairings
Pair with a slow-roasted pork shoulder and herbed potatoes. For simple casual fare, try a classic BLT.
Vintage
Paso Robles saw a fourth consecutive year of low rainfall in 2015. The dry conditions mirrored the extreme climatic trends seen across the entire state of California. Budbreak was early, as is typical in dry years, with vines coming out of dormancy in mid-March. Good growing conditions in April brought rapid shoot growth and were followed by an unusually cold period in early May that reduced Syrah crop yields by roughly 25% due to shatter. This lighter crop ripened readily, with the earliest pick on our warmest site occuring on August 27th. The cooler sites in this blend matured in mid-September and on into early October. The young wines showed explosive fruit and concentration. A quarter of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels which helps to integrate the overall oak influence and contributes an impression of roasted coffee on the palate. The 2015 South Ridge Syrah is a testament to the unique quality of Rhône varietals grown in Paso Robles.
Vineyards
The J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah is grown on a combination of lime-laden and gravelly soils, which rein in Syrah’s rangy growth potential. Roughly 60% of this fruit was grown in the Estrella and San Miguel districts where Syrah flavors tend toward black tea and camphor. The balance is from cooler districts, including El Pomar, Adelaida, Creston and Willow Creek, which infuse the blend with aromatic white pepper and blue fruit notes.
