2021 J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah
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Wine Enthusiast, November 2023
Presented by Brenden Wood, Red Winemaker
Carefully crafted in a food-friendly, balanced style, J. Lohr Estates wines flavorfully reflect their Monterey and Paso Robles origins.
Deeply colored with vibrant purple and magenta hues. Varietal aromas of black cherry and fresh blueberry are accented by black tea, bergamot, and lilac. The juicy and spicy structure of this northern Rhône cultivar is lengthened and lifted by the inclusion of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, and Viognier.
— Winemakers Brenden Wood and Steve Peck
Wine Details
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Composition Blend
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92%
Syrah
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5%
Grenache Noir
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1%
Viognier
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1%
Roussanne
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1%
Mourvèdre
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Origin
Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, CA
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Cellaring
Nuanced with vibrant fruit upon release. Expect texture to soften over the first 2 years in the bottle, with the capacity to hold another 8 years or more.
8 Years
Rich Paso Robles berry and plum married to Rhone-style spice and structure presents a perfect example of a Paso Robles Syrah wine.
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. Vines from our two estate ranches in the cooler Adelaida District of Paso Robles infuse the blend with fresh blackberry flavors, aromatic white pepper, and sandalwood notes. Our Syrah plantings in the the warmer Paso Robles Estrella District tend toward black cherry and black tea leaf flavors. The balance from our high elevation Beck Vineyard in the Creston sub-AVA brings exceptionally dark color, intense concentration, and blue fruit notes.
Vintage
Overall rainfall for the 2021 growing season in Paso Robles was only 75% of the 25-year historical average, with nearly all the precipitation occurring in January. The dry conditions forced vines to produce small but concentrated berries, typical of drought years in Paso Robles. We began picking our earliest ripening Syrah vines in the Estrella District on September 14th, 2021; grapes from our blocks in the Creston and Adelaida districts were picked on October 6th. As in previous vintages, we co-fermented a portion of our Syrah with Viognier - which brings flower blossom aromatics. The final blend also includes 5% Grenache Noir which adds candied strawberry accents, softens the texture, and lengthens the palate. Mourvèdre (1%) was also included to intensify Syrah’s natural peppery spice.
