2020 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
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Wine Enthusiast, December 2022
The 2020 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and dark at the core. Ripe fruit aromas of black cherry and currant are accented by notes of toasted pastry, hazelnut, and vanilla from our extensive barrel aging program. Big, juicy red-fruit flavors infuse the palate while softly textured tannins lead to a long, gratifying finish.
— Brenden Wood, red winemaker
Wine Details
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Composition Blend
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89%
Cabernet Sauvignon
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9%
Petite Sirah
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1%
Cabernet Franc
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1%
Petit Verdot
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Origin
Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, CA
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Cellaring
Balanced and fruit forward upon release, with adequate structure to age seven years or longer.
7 Years -
Vinification
Maturation: 12 months aging in 60-gallon American oak barrels, 18% new
Barrel type: Predominantly medium-plus toasted Missouri and Minnesota oak, with toasted heads
A classic wine icon for thirty vintages – one of America’s favorite Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons.
Vineyards
The predominant source for our J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon program is our vineyard located directly opposite our J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center, plus two newer sites just to the north (J. Lohr Sinclair and J. Lohr Jones ranches). The original Seven Oaks vineyard was planted on its own rootstock, utilizing some of the indigenous Estrella clones widely planted in Paso Robles. The soils in our vineyards vary from gravelly clay loam to limestone-based, over a relatively small parcel of land; various rootstock and clonal combinations have been used to maximize the expression of each individual site and the eventual wine’s layered complexity.
Vintage
Overall, precipitation for the 2020 season in Paso Robles was on par with its 25-year historical average. Springtime brought mild daytime temperatures which allowed vines to have good flower bloom, healthy canopy growth, and modest fruit set (after two previous years with above-average crop loads). The healthy canopies combined with a moderate fruit load allowed the grapevines to withstand that year’s post-veraison late August and September heatwaves with little desiccation. Due to the heatwaves, wildfires elsewhere in the state, and COVID-19, the 2020 vintage will be remembered as worrisome and strenuous.We were fortunate in Paso Robles to ultimately have a Cabernet harvest of exceptional quality.
