Wines

In the late 1960s, Jerry Lohr began an extensive investigation of California grape growing regions - searching for the ideal location for his first vineyard. Jerry was raised on a South Dakota farm; his agricultural roots armed him with an innate sense for the relationship between climate, soil, and location. His research and instincts led him to the Central Coast, an area just beginning to explore its potential for winegrowing.
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines now includes 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. Also, J. Lohr farms over 2,300 acres of vineyards in Paso Robles, now recognized as one of the world's best spots for Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Nearly all the red wines in the J. Lohr portfolio come from here, affirming the foresight of Jerry's original vision.
J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark in color with a bright hue. Layered aromas of cassis and black cherry are accented by an authentic barrel bouquet of hazelnut, cocoa, and toasted pastry. Sturdy tannins strike the palate and finish with the high-toned fruit signature that typifies the Paso Robles growing region. Enjoy!

The founders of Mount Veeder Winery bought the rugged property in the 1960s. After farming the property's prune orchard for the first few years, a farmhand who lived on the property presented the owners with a bundle of cast-off grapevine cuttings. The family put the unrooted cuttings into the ground and never gave them a drop of water. Of the 60 cuttings planted, 58 lived. This prompted the owners to turn their full attention to the vines and the family turned land into a thriving vineyard, ultimately making history as the first vintner in Napa Valley to plant one property to all five of the classic Bordeaux varieties.

The debut wine from Mount Veeder Winery was the 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon. Since that first vintage, Mount Veeder Winery has expanded to three vineyard ranches nestled high in the Mayacamas Mountains and continues to produce powerful, bold wines that are a true expression of this unique wine-growing region.
'You can make bad wine from good fruit; but, you can't make good wine from bad fruit."
At Highland Park liquors we repeatedly stress the importance of the underlying fruit (grapes) from which a wine is made. A Cabernet from Mount Veeder Winery, although it's sold as "Cabernet," is really a Bordeaux blend. To our taste a Bordeaux blend is always more flavorful and interesting than a straight cab. Good fruit.

Back in 1976 Freemark Abbey Cabernet was one of the winning wines in the famous Judgment in Paris Tasting. It's been a Napa Valley staple for decades and today Freemark Abbey is owned by the Jess Jackson family and has a renewed focus and vitality.
Acclaimed wine critic Robert Parker recently wrote "Freemark Abbey has hit pay dirt big-time, with plenty of terrific offerings that are being released ...Winemaker Ted Edwards seems to go from strength to strength and readers looking for top-flight Napa wines priced under $50.00. You need to check out several of these immediately, as I'm sure they'll be huge crowd-pleasers."
Their cabernet is, typically, a Bordeaux blend. For example, the 2014 was 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6 % Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Decanter Magazine stated "The estate known today as Freemark Abbey was established in 1886 by one of the first female wine-growers in Napa. Today Ted Edwards is head winemaker, worked for the past three decades to develop relationships with growers, allowing exclusive sourcing rights to specific plots, which is crucial to the winery's success. This wine has been aged for 28 months in a mixture of French and American oak.
A typical flavor profile: Powerful blackcurrant nose, with slightly charred oak. Very rich without being jammy, it packs a punch. An assertive and very youthful style, but good acidity and tannins mean this should go the distance. A bit Port-like on the nose to begin with, but there is good depth and the brightness increases in the glass. The palate is succulent, appealing, and has potential to age. Very good.
Come in and talk to our wine expert, Bruce, about this winery and its wines and other important wineries. A former 35 year resident of Sonoma and an employee of Napa's legendary Beaulieu Winery, he's uniquely qualified to help you.