# Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon (2021)

- **Producer:** J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.9%
- **Average price:** €20
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry, plum, vanilla, toast, cloves, coconut, chocolate, coffee, hazelnut

## About this wine

Jerry Lohr founded J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in the early 1970s, recognizing the massive potential of Paso Robles for red Bordeaux varieties long before the region achieved global fame. Today, the second generation of the Lohr family operates the winery with a deep commitment to sustainable viticulture. First introduced with the 1987 vintage, the Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon defined the modern, crowd-pleasing Paso Robles style. Sourced primarily from J. Lohr's estate vineyards opposite the Paso Robles Wine Center, as well as the Sinclair and Jones Ranches, this wine represents a trusted regional benchmark.

## Interesting facts

- Named after the seven majestic wild oak trees that stand in the middle of the original estate vineyard blocks in Paso Robles.
- The 2021 vintage won a stellar 99 Points and Double Gold at the 2024 California State Fair Wine Competition.
- Founder Jerry Lohr was a pioneer in recognizing the potential of Paso Robles for Bordeaux varieties in the 1980s.

## Food pairing

The plush but structured tannins of this Cabernet Sauvignon cut through rich fats, while the dark roasted vanilla and hazelnut elements from the American oak aging program seamlessly mirror charred, roasted, or caramelized culinary elements.

## Wine making process

The 2021 growing season was marked by drought-like conditions, forcing the vines to self-regulate and yield small, highly concentrated berries with high skin-to-juice ratios. The grapes were harvested at optimal maturity and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. J. Lohr employs proprietary fermentation methods to optimize the extraction of deep pigments and skin flavor components while preventing the extraction of harsh, astringent seed tannins. The wine was aged for 12 months in 60-gallon American oak barrels, 18% of which were new, sourced predominantly from Missouri and Minnesota with medium-plus toast profiles.