Deep ruby color; black cherry, plum, blackberry, redcurrant, pomegranate, violets, oak, baking spice, chocolate on the nose and palate.
Dry; smooth, supple tannins, balancing acidity (3.58 pH). Smooth, soft, plush. Medium body. Blend of 89% merlot, 7% malbec, 4% cabernet franc. Whole berry fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks; 100% malolactic fermentation/conversion. Aged 12 months in American oak barrels, 15% new, primarily medium and medium-long toast with toasted heads. 14% ABV
Estate grapes come from the moderately cool El Pomar District of Paso Robles, generally considered the premier site for merlot in Paso Robles. The Certified California Sustainable logo on the Los Osos label indicates at least 85% of the grapes comes from a certified sustainable vineyard and the wine produced in a certified sustainable winery. The 2021 vintage was dry, resulting in small, concentrated berries. Merlot and cab franc were blended to provide layers and some complexity.
J. Lohr started as Jerry Lohr’s vision of a Paso Robles play (south of Monterey County), and Paso Robles remains a core element of J. Lohr, but not all. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines includes more than 2,300 acres in Paso Robles dedicated to cab, merlot, syrah, petite sirah and other red varieties, more than 1,300 acres of cool-climate estate vineyards in the Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands regions of Monterey County with an emphasis on chardonnay, riesling, valdiguié, and pinot noir, and 33 acres in Napa Valley, highlighting cab and sauv blanc.
Jerry Lohr is still around, but the second Lohr generation leads the effort today. Chairman Steve Lohr is responsible for the overall management and strategic planning of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Cynthia Lohr spearheads corporate and product visibility as vice president of marketing, and Lawrence Lohr advocates for wine appreciation as director of wine education. Jeff Meier, with J. Lohr for more than three decades, is the director of winemaking.
J. Lohr Los Osos Merlot, Paso Robles 2021 is soft, creamy, plush mouthfeel, gains subtlety with exposure to air. Not complex, just a delicious, easy drinking red wine. Especially suited for those who want red wine but also want to avoid tannins, acidity, and palate challenges. Laid back, easy on the palate and pocketbook. Pair with grilled beef; excellent with weekday comfort foods—burgers and sliders, grilled sausage, pizza, meatloaf, barbecue beef and pork, pasta dishes with tomato sauces, grilled cheese sandwich, mac and cheese; roasted vegetables—mushrooms, stuffed bell peppers, vegetable shich kebabs; lamb; chicken, including barbecued, grilled; veal. Cheese—camembert, brie, gruyère, gouda, aged cheddar, parmesan, gorgonzola. Avoid strong, sharp, acidic cheese—aged goat cheese, aged sheep cheese, roquefort, feta, taleggio. $12-17
