2022 J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines Cabernet Franc – Don’t Judge a Book By It’s Cover!
Background
Never were truer words stated by George Eliot in the 1860 novel “The Mill on the Floss”. So it can be said of judging wines often seen in grocery stores by the company they keep! Admittedly I had relegated J. Lohr wines as “grocery store” wines. That was without a doubt a total misgiving and corrected by the knowledgeable VP of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Steve Peck a couple of years ago. I am forever grateful for “getting the straight story” about the winery.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Here is an image of one of their “mass-produced” bottles that can be seen in grocery and liquor stores. Thinking that was the extent of the quality portfolio, I often walked by J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines offering in stores much to my embarrassment.
They do have eight 145,000-gallon tanks on their property called Bottle Ready Tank Farm (BRTF) which is the equivalent of 60,000 cases in each tank! While they produce roughly 1.5 million cases (number from over 1 year ago) they do produce an array of other smaller lots of wines.
Having picked up a bottle of the 2022 J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines Cabernet Franc drove home Steve Peck’s point that while J. Lohr has many good quality mass-produced wines, they also have many artisan and hand crafted wines. This is just one of many. Others include the 2019 POM Cuvee which was a blend of 74% Merlot, 18% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc. The POM comes from the Grand Cru wines of Pomerol in Bordeaux on the Right Bank. Beautiful cherry and blueberries were dominant on the taste buds along with a soft finish.
The second wine is the 2019 J.Lohr St.E! It is now one of my favorites consisting of 66% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot. The inspiration behind the St E label is for St. Emilion on the Right Bank. Black fruit with velvety tannins provided a long-lasting finish and stated to age up to 13 years.
Another was for 2020 J.Lohr PAU with inspiration from the Grand Cru wines of Pauillac district in Bordeaux. Mainly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions of other Bordeaux varietal wines to provide structure and layering, resulting in texture and complexity.
Two other noteworthy wines are the 2021 J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that was rated 95 points and comes from their vineyard in Napa Valley. It spent 18 months in 54% new French oak barrels. It is listed to age for 12 years. A donation is made by J. Lohr Winery of $3 for every bottle sold to the National Breast Cancer Foundation program.
The last wine I will mention to give a fuller understanding of their exquisite line up is really about is their 2015 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. This is considered Jerry Lohr’s embodiment reflecting his decades providing his best wine to be enjoyed. It has received 98 points and is comprised of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec.
There are many more……
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Opened this up the evening on the eve of the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition. It had been sitting in the cellar for over one year. I was pleased, startled and in awe of this wonderful wine. On the eyes, a dark and brooding brick and purple coloring. On the nose, fragrant aromas of dark berries and violets sprung forth like a young teenager heading to the Prom. On the palate layers upon layers of pure enjoyment and inspiration. Flavors of black cherries, blackberries, caressing oak, soft leather and smoky oak nuances. On the finish, strong and pronounced tannins, more reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon, but all so welcomed. Finishing with minerality, a touch of Pyrazines (bell pepper) and a long finish.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
It is listed at $60/bottle and was aged 16 months in French oak barrels. It comes in at 15.2% alcohol with only 367 cases produced. This Home Ranch Cabernet Franc not only made my annual Best Wines Tasted for 2025, but also is now on my personal best Cabernet Franc wines ever tasted!
History
Fifty years ago Jerry Lohr with little viticulture background ventured to California and found two areas that he thought could produce good wines: Monterey coast and Paso Robles. Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco had the cool windy climate and rocky soils necessary to produce excellent Chardonnay. Ten years later in the 1980’s, he also realized Paso Robles was well suited for producing Bordeaux varietals with rich soils and large diurnal temperature swings between the warm summer days and the cooling breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Fast forward, the growth of vineyards and planting was steadfastly adhered to with incremental acquisitions of property. Today over 1,400 acres are planted in Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County with a focus on Chardonnay, Riesling, Valdiguié, and Pinot Noir. Now add the 2,700 acres of vineyards in Paso Robles planted and producing Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines winery also owns 30 acres in Napa Valley producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Jerry’s vision has become a reality, producing many solid and award-winning wines with it now still being run as a family business.
One of many distinctions separating J. Lohr winery is their conscientious “farming for the future”. 2023 marks thirteen years since and continuously, J. Lohr became the first vineyard and winery in California to earn the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing from California Sustainable winegrowing Alliance (CSWA). Detailed information can be found on their website.
Sláinte,
Michael