2010 J. Lohr Gesture Mourvèdre

When comparing California wine styles to those of other regions around the world, one theme that emerges is the riper style and generally higher alcohol content of California wines versus Old World wines. The French in particular are accustomed to a climate where chaptalization (adding sugar) is required in most vintages, while California sunshine nearly always assures fully ripe (some would say overripe) fruit. In the 2010 vintage we saw the coolest daily temperatures in a decade in all our Paso Robles vineyards. We achieved ripe flavors at lower Brix levels than we’ve seen in the past with quite restrained alcohol levels. This 2010 Mourvèdre is a distinct shift in style from previous vintages, exhibiting delicate camphor, anise and lilac attributes.

Fruit for our 2010 J. Lohr Gesture Mourvèdre was grown at VZZ vineyard, located in the Willow Creek district in the western part of the Paso Robles AVA. These decade-old vines are planted on a steep, southwest-facing lime-shale hillside. The 23% slope in this block makes simply walking this vineyard very difficult. Our farming plan brings the crop to one cluster per shoot for this large-clustered variety, and in order to intensify flavor and color, it requires trimming off the wings and the lower third of the clusters shortly after set. We hand-harvested into half-ton bins on October 29th. The fruit signature of the blend was lifted and the finish lengthened by blending in Grenache from the same vineyard.



VINEYARDS
This Syrah is from Terra Bella Vineyard, located within the Adelaida subdistrict of the Paso Robles AVA, at an elevation of 1,800 feet. This super steep south-facing Block 6 is planted to Syrah clone 877, farmed to just one cluster per shoot and is prone to rapid sugar accumulation and intense flavor concentration.

TECHNICAL DATA

Appellation: Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County
Composition: 94% Syrah, 6% Grenache
Harvest Dates: September 17, 2009
Harvest Process: Hand-harvested to half ton bins prior to destemming and berry sorting on Vaucher Beguet Mistral system
Harvest chemistries: 28.4° Brix, 0.64 g/100ml TA, 3.47 pH

Vinification:
Yeast: Lallemand RC212 yeast
Fermentation: Fermented in 10 ton open top tank
Temperature: Cold soak 5 days at 55°F, then fermented to 90°F peak temperature
Maceration: 9 days on skins
Malolactic: 100% malolactic, Viniflora Oenos
Maturation: 16 months in barrel
Barrel type: French oak, 36% new
Bottle aging: Bottled in March 2011

Bottling chemistries:
pH: 3.42
Total Acidity: 0.68 g/100ml
Alcohol: 15.16 % by volume
Res. Sugar: Dry
Cellaring: Delicious now, but can be cellared for 6 to 8 years.
Cases produced: 225

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
“The 2009 J. Lohr Gesture Syrah shows incredible density of color and leads with an overwhelming bright, jammy fruit aroma. The delicate oak signature reveals white chocolate and a touch of sage. Flavors are dense on the palate, with soft tannins and a lingering minerality.”
—Steve Peck, red winemaker

FOOD PAIRINGS
Mussels with saffron crème or classic duck confit.