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The 2004 vintage marks the eighteenth year of production of our J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay, from our vineyards in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County. Each year, starting in 1995, we have experimented with and have incorporated higher percentages of traditional Burgundian production techniques into Riverstone, until the desired complexity and target percentages were achieved (reaching 60% in 2000). However, in 2004, winemaking determined that 100% malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging was warranted to balance what mother nature delivered in the vintage weather, creating a wine of greater complexity and nuance. The vines are grown primarily on Elder loam soils underlain by "riverstones" deposited over thousands of years from the Arroyo Seco River, allowing a four-foot rooting zone that keeps the vines¡¯ vegetative growth and fruit in balance. Additionally, the cool climate and winds of the Salinas Valley extend the growing season and retain the natural grape acids and intense varietal character of the Chardonnay.

Things got off to a fast start in 2004 with early budbreak, a very warm spring, and a very warm start to summer. We were running twenty to thirty days ahead of average vine development schedule in early July; this, compounded with fewer and smaller Chardonnay clusters, created anticipation for the earliest vintage on record. The weather continued to be warm, resulting in an expected early vintage. We began picking the French clones of Chardonnay the last week in August – unprecedented in my twenty two years at J. Lohr – and began harvest of “Clone 5” Chardonnay from the Arroyo Vista Vineyard on September 6th. Despite this record early vintage, the Chardonnay fruit tasted outstanding with 25.9° Brix, a very low pH of 3.3 and a very bracing acidity of 9.4 grams per liter.

The 2003 Bramblewood Zinfandel has a dark, plum-magenta color. Aromas are of raspberry, cherry, licorice with coconut and black pepper. The pretty fruit aromas carry through on the palate with excellent weight, ripe tannins and texture, making it a perfect wine to pair with grilled meats and pastas with zesty red sauces.

Dense and dark, youthful, purple-red in color, this initial 2001 vintage of J. Lohr Carol's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has powerful aromas of black currants, cherries and licorice with a complex bouquet of vanilla, tar, graphite and charry oak. Carol's Vineyard delivers a dense, yet incredibly supple structure reminiscent of Bordeaux's finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines.

The vintage of 2005 can be characterized by one word – ‘refreshing.’ Refreshing in that we had normal rainfall after two years of drought, and warm weather without heat storms at the end of the vintage, creating a frenzied dash to harvest – a year that put calm back into winemaking. This vintage marks the fifth year of production of J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and a year in which I have put four years of learning to good use. We hand harvested an early pick at 20.2º Brix on August 16th to capture some of the fresh herbaceous essence and bracing acidity, followed by a second and final harvest nine days later on August 25th at 22.6º Brix with riper, citrus-based flavors. The early pick Sauvignon Blanc was destemmed, crushed and held on the skins for twenty-four hours prior to pressing, and was fermented in a combination of stainless steel barrels and tank. The second harvest was destemmed, pressed and settled in tank and was fermented in a combination of French oak barrels and a stainless steel tank. All winemaking was done in a very reductive environment (excluding oxygen) and the resultant wine is an elegant style of citrus-influenced Sauvignon Blanc.

The 2004 Crosspoint Pinot has a vibrant garnet color with medium density. It has an obvious lift of strawberries with hints of raspberry and cherry. Attractive fruit characters with medium body and some earthiness dominate the palate. The light texture of this wine and its characteristic mouth-filling fruit flavors are ideally suited to grilled wild salmon or roast duck.

The 2000 J. Lohr Cuvée St. E is a deeply flavorful blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine is a dark red-purple color with aromas of red currants, coffee, cherry cough drops, dried leaves and raspberry combined with a complex toasted cedar, vanilla and tar bouquet from barrel aging. My objective is to simulate the complexity and elegance found in the Premier Grand Cru Classé wines from St. Emilion. The Cuvée St.E exhibits a finesse and seamless structured elegance on the palate - a result of the careful blending of different Bordeaux varieties without the restraints of varietal percentages.

Cypress Cabernet Sauvignon is a youthful, dark purple red in color with bright fruit aromas of black currants, cherry, and mixed berry jam. The flavors are forward and full with considerable weightiness of fruit and structure. A complex and lovely fruited wine, the Cypress Cabernet makes an ideal accompaniment to grilled lamb chops with rosemary.

Cypress Chardonnay is a bright and youthful pale yellow in color with fruit forward aromas of pear, nectarine and pineapple with tangerine citrus notes. It has lively fruit flavors of pear, nectarine and citrus with refreshing acidity and solid palate intensity. Its bright fruit aromas and flavors make it an ideal accompaniment to grilled/sautéed seafood and chicken.

The 2004 Cypress Merlot exhibits youthful bright, complex characters from the initial color through to the palate and the finish. The color has attractive purple, red hues with lifted dark cherry, current fruit aromas. On the palate the wine displays similar bright fruit characters with undertones of spice and oak. This wine is designed to be drunk from a young age but will age well up to 5 years. It would be well suited to most roasted or grilled meats or tomato based dishes.

Cypress Sauvignon Blanc is a bright and youthful pale yellow in color with forward, racy fruit aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry and fresh herbs. It has bright fruit flavors echoing the aromas with a refreshing, palate-cleansing acidity. Its racy fruit aromas and flavors make it an ideal accompaniment to summer salads with grapefruit and fennel or grilled seafood.

Cypress Sauvignon Blanc is a bright and youthful brassy yellow green in color with racy fruit aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, fresh herbs and dried flowers. Bright fruit flavors echo the aromas with a refreshing, palate cleansing acidity. Serve as an ideal accompaniment to salads with grapefruit and fennel or grilled seafood.

Cypress Shiraz is youthful yet dark purple-red in color with intense fruit aromas of boysenberry, blackberry and currants with black pepper. The flavors are bright and fruity, echoing the aromas with considerable weightiness of fruit and structure. An incredible wine of fruit intensity and flavor makes it an ideal accompaniment to grilled sausages, fajitas and seasoned pork loin.

Cypress White Zinfandel is a bright and youthful salmon-pink in color with delicate fruit aromas of strawberry, raspberry, watermelon and cotton candy, and is refreshing in its style of crisp acidity, a hint of spritz and a touch of residual sugar. Enjoy with grilled salmon or chicken or as an ideal picnic wine.

The 2005 J. Lohr Estates Bay Mist White Riesling is a very youthful, pale brassy yellow color with enticing fruit aromas of apricot, passion fruit, lychee, curry and coconut. The 2.14% residual sugar is balanced by the crisp grape acidity and natural spritz from a long, cool fermentation, making the 2005 White Riesling a delightfully fruity, refreshing wine, capable of complementing the vibrant flavors of Pacific Rim cuisine, Indian curried chicken, or served as an aperitif. Jeff Meier, winemaker

The 2003 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot has dark red-purple hues with good density. The aromas are of dark cherry and plum fruits with currant undertones, balanced with cedary toasty oak and hints of anise and tobacco. The depth of this wine is evident in both the aroma and on the palate, with good continuation of flavors from the nose. While the intense fruit flavors define this wine as attractive, the wine’s full weight and structure underscore this classy Merlot. Drink now, though the wine will age well into the next decade. Serve with any red meats, tomato-based dishes and especially, spicier foods.

The 2004 vintage was one of the earliest on record. Warm spring weather preceded a moderate summer, followed by our first real heat spell in September. This particular heat event rapidly brought on sugar ripeness in many of the red varietals. Zinfandel was no exception with the sugars rising to 28° Brix, kicking off the 2004 harvest with a bang, which naturally resulted in another great year for Paso Robles Zinfandel.

The wine exhibits a youthful complexion of dark ruby colors with red and purple hues, and has a vibrant, dark cherry aroma with hints of raspberry, forming a base for other characters of cocoa, tar and vanilla. The wine has a full structure and a lingering finish. This cabernet is suitable with all game and red meats, as well as tomato-based dishes.

The color is a bright dark red with purple hues, displaying its youthfulness and good depth of color. Dark cherries are the prominent fruit character on the nose with hints of plums and blackberry. The primary fruit characters are complex with an attractive spice component of anise and tobacco. The palate displays fruit characters reminiscent of the aroma with forward to mid palate weight and a soft lingering finish. This wine should be enjoyed immediately or up to 5 years. This wine would be ideal with barbeque spice rubbed chicken or pork.

Vibrant purple-red in color with youthful hues, our 2004 J. Lohr Estates Wildflower Valdiguié has intense varietal aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, blackberry, and bing cherry preserves with a black pepper note. The bright fruit characters follow through on the palate, which is well balanced with good acidity and a fruity finish. This wine is ideally enjoyed soon after harvest in the manner of a 'nouveau' wine. Served slightly chilled as an aperitif or with Cornish game hen, cheeses or quiche.

Dark, youthful purple-red in color, the 2000 vintage of Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon has elegant aromas of blackberry syrup, black cherry, violets and licorice with a well integrated bouquet of vanilla, tar and toasty oak. The 2000 Hilltop is a plump, mouthful of wine with a suppleness of texture and balance, reminiscent of Bordeaux’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines with the structure to age for 10 to 15 years.

The 2000 J. Lohr Cuvée POM is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is dark purple-red in color with "terroir-based" aromas of raspberry, coffee, red currants and candied grapes, combined with a complex tarry chocolate and vanilla bouquet from barrel aging. My objective is to simulate the complexity and elegance found in the Premier Grand Cru Classé wines from Pomerol. The Cuvée POM exhibits a velvety finesse and seamless elegance on the palate - a result of the careful blending of different Bordeaux varieties without the restraints of varietal percentages. A wine that will age beautifully for 5-10 years, the J. Lohr Cuvée POM is delicious with berry-sauced pork and game dishes, as well as savory and rich vegetable dishes such as white beans and spinach

This 2004 Painter Bridge Chardonnay is a vibrant, youthful pale yellow in color with attractive pear, white blossom, honeydew melon and lemon aromas and flavors with a clean, balanced and rich finish. Enjoy as an aperitif, or with your favorite pasta, chicken, or seafood dish.

The 2004 Painter Bridge Zinfandel shows great color density with youthful purple hues. The aromas are enticing spicy, jammy red fruits: raspberry, boysenberry and red currants with a black tea spice. The palate delivers a full, yet supple wine with great raspberry Zinfandel fruit presence and richness of flavor richness. Enjoy with your favorite pasta dishes and grilled meats. Serve at around 62°F.