2020 J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Sirah

Vineyards

In the vineyards surrounding Tower Road, in the Estrella district of Paso Robles, our Petite Sirah vines thrive on the well-drained yet heavier clay soils of the area. The rarity of autumn rains in Paso Robles allows this tight-clustered variety to reach full maturity almost every year. Our ripening program requires that we apply netting to the vines in August to assure that birds don’t overfeed on this especially flavorful grape before harvest. Intense summer sun and very warm daytime temperatures in Paso Robles are balanced by the gentle afternoon breezes that creep in from the Monterey Bay to the north and from the Templeton Gap to the west. These winds cool the area by as much as fifty degrees by early morning, preserving the acidity and bright fruit character of our Petite Sirah.

Vintage

Overall, precipitation for the 2020 season in Paso Robles was on par with its 25-year historical average. Springtime enjoyed temperate daytime temperatures which allowed vines to have good flower bloom, healthy canopy growth, and modest fruit set (after two previous years of above average crop loads). Late August and September saw record heat waves; fortunately, the protective canopies and moderate fruit load allowed the vines to withstand the heat with little desiccation. We started hand-harvesting Petite Sirah on September 25th, 2020. In the final blend, we added 8% Malbec which provides red fruit notes and a plush mid-palate. Inclusion of the white Rhône varieties Grenache Blanc and Viognier bring nuanced floral aromatics and length to the finish.