Paso Robles

Santa Lucia Highlands

Pinot Noir

This limited-release J. Lohr Highlands Bench Pinot Noir comes from the Costa Vineyard, in the famed Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey. In 2008, we were invited to partner with the Costa family to establish a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyard on the family property. We participated in soil evaluation, vineyard layout, and clone and rootstock selection, ultimately choosing the highest elevations and most gravelly soils for the Pinot Noir plantings. The close proximity to Monterey Bay, the estate’s eastern slope and aspect, and its elevation above the valley floor combine to grow intensely- flavored Burgundian varietals.

The J. Lohr Highlands Bench Pinot Noir displays an aromatic core of black cherry and strawberry allied to spicy notes of nutmeg, mocha, and black pepper. On the palate, bright raspberry flavors are wrapped in a creamy texture and toasty oak from our bi-weekly barrel stirring program. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

J. Lohr Highlands Bench Pinot Noir

United States

California

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

J. Lohr Wildflower Valdiguié

J. Lohr Shotwell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

J. Lohr Gesture RVG

J. Lohr Home Ranch Cabernet Franc

J. Lohr Gesture Mourvèdre

J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay

J. Lohr Cuvee PAU

J. Lohr Shotwell Vineyard Malbec

J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Sirah

J. Lohr Late Harvest White Riesling

J. Lohr Stairway Vineyard Grenache Rosé

J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot

J. Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling

J. Lohr Beck Vineyard Syrah

J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

J. Lohr Cuvee POM

J. Lohr Cuvee ST. E

J. Lohr Estates Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir

J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah

J. Lohr F&G Vineyard Pinot Blanc

J. Lohr Estates Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc

J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir

J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon

For fifty years and through two generations, the Lohr family and their team have been leaders in the California wine industry. Founder Jerry Lohr and his three children Steve, Cynthia, and Lawrence oversee one of the country’s most successful and trusted fine wine labels. With first plantings in Monterey in 1972 and then in Paso Robles in 1986, the J. Lohr team helped write the book on sustainable winegrowing on the Central Coast. Today, J. Lohr farms more than 4,000 acres of estate vineyards in Monterey’s Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations, Paso Robles, and St. Helena in the Napa Valley.

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines produces eight tiers of award-winning releases: J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, J. Lohr Cuvée Series, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Gesture, J. Lohr Pure Paso® Proprietary Red Wine, J. Lohr Estates, J. Lohr Monterey Roots, and ARIEL Vineyards. J. Lohr was honored with the 2020 Green Medal Leader Award in recognition of the company’s decades-long commitment to sustainability. JLohr.com is the winery’s online home.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chardonnay

Grenache

Grenache Blanc

Grenache Noir

Malbec

Merlot

Mourvèdre

Petite Sirah

Petit Verdot

Pinot Blanc

Riesling

Roussanne

Saint-Macaire

Sauvignon Blanc

Syrah

Valdiguié

Viognier

Zinfandel

Brenden Wood has been an integral part of the J. Lohr
Vineyards & Wines winemaking team since 2004, and was
the assistant winemaker working alongside Director of
Winemaking Steve Peck from 2010 until 2019 when he then took
on the role of Red Winemaker. In this role, Brenden combines
his understanding of the technical aspects of great winemaking
with an appreciation for the artistry of the blend.

After growing up in the Bay Area, Brenden attended Cal Poly,
where he earned a degree in biochemistry in 1999. During
university, Brenden also cultivated an interest in wine.
Combining his science background and his newfound
appreciation for the great things that can be achieved with a little
fermentation, Brenden was soon brewing his own beer and
making his own small lots of wine.

As his passion for wine grew, Brenden began traveling more,
exploring wine regions throughout France and Italy. He also
worked harvests at two small Paso Robles wineries, gaining
valuable practical winemaking experience. In 2004, Brenden
joined J. Lohr as a lab technician, where he ran day-to-day
quality control analysis, while also helping to develop several
leading-edge tools for color and tannin analysis.

In 2007, Brenden was promoted to enologist, working closely
with both Steve Peck and President/COO Jeff Meier to further
enhance quality in every aspect of the winemaking program.

Though Brenden has a deep foundation in the technical side of
winemaking, he also believes in applying those skills creatively
in order to make great wine—an approach that was recognized
when Brenden was named assistant winemaker in 2010. Based
in Paso Robles, Brenden focuses on the winery’s red wine
portfolio. In keeping with J. Lohr’s hands-on, small lot
approach, Brenden helps to oversee as many as 400 individual
fermentations in a given vintage.

Brenden lives with his wife, Carrie, and his son, Emerson, just
southwest of Paso Robles in the little town of Templeton. Prior
to going on maternity leave, Carrie was the head viticulturist for
J. Lohr. Brenden loves the outdoors and is an avid hiker. He has
climbed both Mount Whitney and Kilimanjaro.•

Brenden Wood

At J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, acclaimed winemaker Kristen
Barnhisel brings two decades of viticulture and winemaking
experience spanning three continents to her role as winemaker for all
white wines. Known for her gifted palate and technical skill, Kristen uses
her expertise with a range of white wine varieties, styles and winemaking
methods to guide J. Lohr’s white wine portfolio.

Kristen was raised in Santa Rosa by a microbiologist mother, who
worked for Simi Winery, and a father who was a home winemaker.
Though she grew up immersed in the wine industry, even working
harvests as a summer job, it wasn’t until she traveled to Italy while
earning her B.A. in Italian literature that she was inspired to become a
winemaker. Encouraged by legendary California winemaker, and family
friend, Zelma Long, Kristen became one of the first women, and the
first American, to work harvest for Ruffino in Italy—an experience that
deepened her desire to become a winemaker. Kristen went on to earn a
master’s degree in enology from UC Davis, while also working a number
of coveted internships, including Warwick Wine Estate in South Africa,
Opus One, and Long Vineyard, where she gained invaluable knowledge
working alongside her mentor, Zelma Long.

After graduation, eager to build on her growing knowledge of different
wine regions, Kristen moved to Washington State, where she spent two
years as the enologist at Columbia Crest. Returning to California, Kristen
held positions as the assistant winemaker at Jordan Vineyard & Winery
and later Belvedere Winery, before joining Handley Cellars in Anderson Valley, where she was co-winemaker with founder Milla Handley for eight years. Prior to joining J. Lohr in 2015, Barnhisel was the quality control manager at Inglenook, where she was charged with ensuring wine quality of the Rubicon, Inglenook’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Blancaneaux, the winery’s top white wine.

Today, utilizing her extensive experience with cool-climate white wine
varieties, Kristen works alongside President/COO Jeff Meier and Director
of Winemaking Steve Peck to guide J. Lohr’s white wine program.
“We are a winery that values leadership, experience and a willingness
to experiment,” says Jeff. “From her work in multiple countries and
appellations to her leadership role as a vice president at the American
Society for Enology and Viticulture, Kristen has shown a remarkable
commitment to research and experimentation. She’s also a phenomenal
winemaker.”

“I love the challenge of making serious white wines that reflect their
vineyard roots,” says Kristen. “It is incredibly rewarding to take an
inherently transparent grape and to find that perfect place where fruit
flavors, aromatics, alcohol, acidity, texture and palate length all come into
perfect balance.”

Kristen Barnhisel

Red Blend

An enticing and little-known French grape has found its perfect New World home among Monterey’s coastal lupines and poppies. Chill a red? Yes! And pair it with just about anything. Now, you’re in the know... Served slightly chilled, displays inviting fresh raspberry, cranberry, and pomegranate aromas, with a bit of black pepper and hibiscus. Flavors of brambly, bright red berry with a touch of spice, mid-palate acidity, and a juicy, mouth-watering finish. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

A pure expression of Paso Robles Cabernet from young vines on a single, special vineyard. Black currants, anise and tobacco shape the nose. Firm structure on the palate gives way to a long finish of red fruit. A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

Roussanne Blend

White

The delicate nose offers aromas of honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, ripe apple, and honeydew melon. These flavors expand on the palate with ripe white peach, tangerine, and minerality, with balanced texture and a long finish. J. Lohr's Gesture series are limited releases available exclusively to club members. Certified California Sustainable.

Grown on the hillside across from our J. Lohr Wine Center in the Estrella District of Paso Robles. Fragrant aromas of cocoa powder, berry compote, and fresh brewed espresso give way to more subtle aromas of mint sprig, wild raspberry, and garrigue. The palate is pleasantly pure and plump, with a mouthwatering finish.  A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

With expressive varietal aromas of blackberry and ripe black cherry, accentuated by notes of dried anise and thyme. The lively palate has a juicy, red berry core and smooth, evolved tannins. Black pepper and blueberry linger on the finish. J. Lohr's Gesture series are limited releases available exclusively to club members. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Our J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay is grown in the heart of the windswept and cool Arroyo Seco AVA of Monterey County. Loamy sand and gravelly loam soils of the Elder series are intermixed and underlain by “Greenfield potatoes” - stones that resemble potatoes in size and appearance and which absorb heat during the day and radiate it after sunset. This underlying layer of stone effectively limits root growth to the top three to five feet of soil, harmoniously balancing the fruit and shoot growth of our richly flavored Chardonnay. Aromas of yellow flowers, baked apple, crème brûlée, and brioche. The texture is balanced by integrated flavors of pear, Meyer lemon cream, and baking spices, with a long, sweet oak finish. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

The inspiration for this blend comes from the Grand Cru wines of the Pauillac district of Bordeaux which are composed primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with occasional accents from Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Our J. Lohr winemaking team is given the freedom to emulate these great wines without the restrictions of varietal percentages, instead keenly focusing on the texture and complexity of the blend that nature delivers with each vintage.

Abundant with color, offers aromas of milk chocolate, cherry, and violet. The texture is super-soft, with plum, raspberry, hibiscus, and a touch of cracked pepper on the palate.  A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

In the vineyards surrounding Tower Road, in the Estrella district of Paso Robles, our Petite Sirah thrives on the well-drained yet heavier clay soils of the area. 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.

In 1998, we began a joint venture planting partnership with our longtime neighbor in the Arroyo Seco, Michael Griva. During 2006, we planted Riesling on a series of small mesas on the Griva Ranch, close to the Arroyo Seco River in the heart of the appellation, internally designated as Blocks 9 and 10. The soils in the area are largely gravelly, sandy loam, containing ubiquitous large cobbles deposited by the Arroyo Seco River over the millenia — providing a well-drained medium for the Riesling vines to grow and showcase their Arroyo Seco terroir. This wine is the result of our meticulous selection of only the best botrytis-affected berries. Its golden hues, firm acidity, and layers of apricot, white peach, and honeycomb flavors are reminiscent of the great Trockenbeerenauslese of Germany. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Rosé

The J. Lohr Stairway Vineyard Grenache Rosé displays fresh aromas of ripe strawberry, pink grapefruit, and Asian pear. The palate is crisp and succulent, with tropical fruit flavors giving way to a refreshing finish. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

The J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot is medium-dark in color with a red hue. Varietal aromas of black plum and violet meld with the light barrel signature of baking spices and toasted pastry. A generous fraction of Malbec in the blend accentuates bright fruit tones and contributes notes of pomegranate and hibiscus flower. This wine is lively and bright on the palate and cascades to a lengthy, red-fruit finish. It's named after the slightly heavier Los Osos series soils in Paso Robles, which have proven to be the perfect medium for growing lush, flavorful Merlot. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

White Blend

The J. Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling has exotic aromas of honeysuckle, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, and lychee. Flavors of ripe apple and pear, with just a touch of residual sweetness, classic minerality, and a light, refreshing spritz of natural carbonation on the finish. Fresh, cool, crisp - an easy-drinking Riesling that begs for another glass. A perfect sipper by itself but its lower alcohol and bright acidity also make it a no-rules, incredibly food-friendly wine. Pair it with Asian-Fusion cuisine or anything with a lick of spicy heat. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Displays the spicy elements that this northern Rhône variety is known for, with elevated floral aromas from the inclusion of Viognier in the ferment. Dark in color with a racy attack, this wine finishes with a floral twist and an energetic edge.  A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

Carol’s Vineyard lies in northern St. Helena along the Napa River. Comprised of 27 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon (Clone 337 on 3309 rootstock) and 4.3 acres of Petit Verdot (Clone 400 on 3309 rootstock). The well-drained, gravelly, sandy loam soils and Bordeaux-like climate of the Napa Valley are ideally suited to producing richly textured, luxury-quality fruit. Named after Jerry Lohr’s late wife, this special 35-acre property in St. Helena is the source for this limited-release, classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon displays fragrant black cherry and cassis aromas, layered with hazelnut and patisserie from the French oak barrel aging. Dark berry flavors saturate the palate, intertwining with fine-grained tannins and spiced notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa. A donation from every bottle sold of J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made to support and further National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. programs. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

The inspiration for J. Lohr Cuvée POM comes from the Grand Cru wines of Pomerol on the Right Bank of the Dordogne in Bordeaux. These legendary wines are traditionally composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with sparse additions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. At J. Lohr, our winemaking team is given the freedom to emulate these great wines without the restrictions of varietal percentages, instead keenly focusing on the texture and complexity of the blend that nature delivers with each vintage.

The inspiration for our J. Lohr Cuvee St. E comes from the Grand Cru wines of St. Emilion from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These memorable wines are composed primarily from Cabernet Franc and Merlot, with rare touches of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot. We are given the freedom to emulate these great wines without the restrictions of varietal percentages, instead keenly focusing on the texture and complexity of the blend that nature delivers with each vintage.

The J. Lohr Estates Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir is produced from cool climate grapes grown in select vineyards within and surrounding the Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands regions of Monterey County. This region has earned a well-deserved reputation for producing world-class Pinot Noir. Over the past decade, the introduction of Dijon clones of Pinot Noir, along with the old standby Pommard clone, has dramatically increased the quality of the varietal here. These newer clones are the backbone of this release of Falcon's Perch, named for the bird which had made its home in the lone pine tree among the vines, safeguarding the grapes from vertabrate pests while preserving the ecosystem’s natural balance. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

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. 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. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Aromas of ripe apple, paperwhites, and pear. Palate of ripe melon and Meyer lemon, with a creamy texture and long finish from fermentation and aging in the large vessels.  A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

The grapes for the J. Lohr Estates Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc are grown in the well-drained, sandy, cobblestone soils deposited by the Arroyo Seco River. These rugged soils keep yields in check and produce fruit with varietal intensity, minerality and exceptional weight. The long cool growing season of the Arroyo Seco appellation ensures that the fleeting, exotic fruit flavors of Sauvignon Blanc are retained along with a vibrant natural acidity. The Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc is created to be an expression of pure varietal character, influenced only by its terroir, gently guided by minimal farming and winemaking practices. Pale yellow in color and displays aromas of honeysuckle, sweet herbs, lime, and fig. These aromas are complemented on the palate by the bright flavors of grapefruit, kiwi, passionfruit, and lemongrass, with the rich texture and long finish provided by the acacia barrels. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

The J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir expresses the varietal terroir of the Arroyo Seco region with bing cherry, strawberry, and sage notes on the nose. Bright cherry flavors wash across the palate, leaving peppery spice on the lengthy finish. The vineyard resides in a cool and windy enclave of the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. Comprised of multiple early ripening Dijon selections of Pinot Noir (clones 115, 667, 777), as well as late-ripening Pommard 4, the vines are grown on extremely well-drained, loamy sand and gravelly loam soils intermixed and underlain by large potato-sized cobblestones. The unique combination of soil, climate, and viticulture at this site produces deeply-colored Pinot Noir with elegantly refined structure and flavor. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

The Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon is primarily sourced from the relatively cool El Pomar District sub-AVA in Paso Robles, where the J. Lohr Shotwell Vineyard is located. A lesser amount is from the J. Lohr Beck Vineyard, located at a 1,700 foot elevation in the Creston District. The blend also utilizes a collection of other small sites in the Paso Robles AVA. Blessed with long summer days of intense sunshine, our near 100°F daytime temperatures are followed by chilly, ocean-cooled nights in the 50s. These Cabernet vines are naturally stressed in the dry, often very gravelly, and sometimes lime shale-laden soils. Water is at a premium in these vineyards, enabling the viticulturist to fine-tune irrigation, resulting in the darkest possible fruit with resolved tannins year after year. It's effusive with fresh varietal aromas of black cherry and hints of toasted pastry and baking spice on the nose. Dense and soft on the palate. Elegant layers of black and red currants leave a bright finish. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

Arroyo Seco

El Pomar District

Adelaida District

Paso Robles Estrella District

Creston District

St. Helena

Monterey

The vineyards for the October Night Chardonnay lie in J. Lohr’s Block 9 plantings in the Arroyo Seco AVA of Monterey County, near the mouth of the Arroyo Seco River, which provides a slightly more wind-protected environment. Comprised largely of Dijon Clone 809 Chardonnay - known in some circles as the Musqué Clone - these vines produce a very distinctive and attractive floral character. The soil is laden throughout its loamy profile with “Greenfield potatoes,” stones that resemble potatoes in size and appearance; they absorb heat during the day and radiate their heat after sunset, enhancing floral character and richness. This unique Chardonnay blend provides balanced and complex flavors of ripe orange, orange marmalade, and white peaches, with a rich midpalate and a hint of toasted oak on the long finish. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

J. Lohr October Night Chardonnay

The J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine is exactly what the name suggests: authentic Paso Robles winegrowing history captured in a bottle. J. Lohr Pure Paso artfully blends Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah – two J. Lohr benchmark varieties – into a unique proprietary red wine. The two varieties have long been intertwined in J. Lohr’s winegrowing history and, in particular, the Lohr family’s pioneering efforts in the Paso Robles region.

This Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine highlights J. Lohr’s house-style, which is acclaimed for its dense and focused fruit signature, coupled with a soft, approachable palate. Its classic, dramatic packaging recalls Paso Robles’ frontier ethos. It is our delicious, proprietary tribute to one of the world’s great winegrowing regions – a special place that J. Lohr is proud to call home.

J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine

The vines for our J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay are grown primarily on Elder loam soils underlain by “riverstones,” deposited over thousands of years by the Arroyo Seco River. These stones limit soil depth from one to four feet, although roots are found at greater depths. This unique combination of sandy loam and cobblestone soils keeps the vines’ growth and fruit in balance, while the cool climate and winds of the Salinas Valley extend the growing season - retaining the natural grape acids and intense varietal character of Chardonnay. For more than thirty vintages, a classic Chardonnay from Monterey’s cool-climate Arroyo Seco appellation. Classic Monterey stone fruit and citrus aromas and flavors, balanced by cool climate acidity and nine months oak aging. This wine has earned the Certified California Sustainable seal.

J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay

Display aromas of black plum and blood orange with a touch of cardamom spice. The bright palate is laden with bushberry and ample torque to carry this release for a decade in the cellar. J. Lohr's Gesture series are limited releases available exclusively to club members.

J. Lohr Gesture Syrah

Highlighted by aromas of honeysuckle, Meyer lemon, and mineral with a hint of fig. These aromas are complemented on the palate by bright flavors of ripe grapefruit, kiwi, and pear, with rich palate texture and a long finish provided by the French Oak and acacia barrels and puncheons. A Winery Exclusive offering from our J. Lohr Vineyard Series - available only at the wine centers and jlohr.com. Certified California Sustainable.

J. Lohr F&G Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced to honor the 80th birthday of founder Jerry Lohr. This limited release was specially selected and blended from this exceptional vintage in Paso Robles. It is both a tribute to Jerry's pioneering efforts in the region and our red wine portfolio's ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the Creston District of Paso Robles. Our high-elevation vineyard site sits at 1,700 feet, above the morning fog line in the remote La Panza mountain range. The site’s chalky, devigorating soils and full sun exposure produce small but intensely concentrated berries with luxurious depth of color and flavor. The hand-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were de-stemmed and berry-sorted at the winery, followed by a 18% saignée which brought concentration to the must prior to fermentation. A short, eight-day maceration revealed superb color potential with ideal tannin extraction prior to pressing. Aged 20 months in 94% new French oak barrels from coopers Berger, Nadalie, Demptos, and Taransaud.

J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon

The original Cabernet Sauvignon from this time-honored producer has defined the Paso Robles style. Intense flavors of black cherry, cassis, and toasted pastry allied to a soft, juicy palate.

Paso Robles

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

California

2022

J. Lohr Highlands Bench Pinot Noir

Santa Lucia Highlands

Release Price

Drink Window

ABV

pH

TA

RS

Food Pairing

More from this Producer