Justin Vineyards & Winery (Paso Robles, CA)
Justin Winery
11680 Chimney Rock Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
805-591-3224
www.justinwine.com
Thu 07/25/2024, 03:15p-04:05p
A group of us recently drove up to Northern California, and on the way there, our plan was to stop by Paso Robles and visit a few wineries (it would be my first time there). Unfortunately, we wound up having time for only one, and ended up choosing Justin, which I wasn't very familiar with.
The Central Coast winery was indeed founded by a guy named Justin--Justin Baldwin--back in 1981, with the goal of making Bordeaux-style blends. Currently headed by Winemaker Scott Shirley (The Hess Collection, Opus One), they've been pretty successful from what I gather, and Justin does appear to be one of the more well-known producers in the AVA. Interestingly, Justin was purchased by Stewart and Lynda Resnick back in 2010, and now resides under the Wonderful Company umbrella along with the couple's other brands, mostly notably Teleflora, POM Wonderful, and Fiji Water.
Here we see the main tasting room, which is primarily a standing-only sort of affair, though there is plenty of seating outside on the patio.
You'll find multiple imbibing options here. The basic unit of consumption is the standard wine flight, priced at $49, which is waived with a $100 purchase. I opted for the premium flight at $80, waived given my $200 purchase (see below). In addition, there's a heritage flight at $150 with a choice of five older bottlings. You can also order wine by the glass or by the bottle, and there are even off-menu library selections that you have to inquire about (as I did). Food is certainly an option as well. Click for larger versions.
1: 2021 Savant | 54% Syrah, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon
The first wine of my tasting was a near-equal blend of Syrah and Cab, one that brought a bouquet filled with juicy notes of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte as well as a distinct woodsy spice. On the palate, I found a potent tannic structure, with flavors of tart berry fruits joined by a palpable underpinning of olive-y brine and herb.
2: 2017 Justification | 65% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot
My second wine was ostensibly inspired by Bordeaux's right bank. I found the California claret rather peppery on the nose, with supporting nuances of oak and violets. Taking a sip, this was full and ripe, its jammy dark fruits evened out by herbaceous and woodsy qualities.
3: 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
The lone single-varietal wine of the afternoon, this one was all about aromas of sour, stewed fruit intertwined with tobacco-y spice. I found it surprisingly supple on the palate, its flavors of dark, ripe berries countered by sweet, perfume-y spices.
4: 2020 Isosceles | 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot
And now we come to Justin's flagship wine. The nose here was lively, offering up zippy red fruits commingled with cedar-y spices. Taste-wise, I found things well-balanced, with full-bodied dark fruits set against spicy, oaky nuances and a distinct mintiness.
Bonus: 2014 Isosceles | 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Along with the '20 above, I was graciously offered a complimentary serving of the '14 Isosceles for comparison purposes, and it was quite a different experience. The nose on this one showcased more signs of age, and had this earthy quality to go along with its more mature presentation of cacao-laced fruit. On the palate, the wine still conveyed a healthy dosing of tannins and acidity, while flavors alternated between herbaceous and fruity, and interestingly enough, I also got this nearly "cakey" sensation.
5: 2019 Isosceles Reserve | 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Today's final wine just might've been my favorite of the bunch (along with the '14 Isosceles above). The bouquet here was all about lush black fruit, but presented in a "dusty", oaky manner. Taking a sip, the juice was full and soft on the palate, with an eminently balanced presentation of rich fruit, herb, and a bit of that forest floor.
As you may know, I tend to like the older stuff as far as wines go, so I inquired about the oldest bottle in the winery's library, and was shown the 1999 Justin Isosceles [$327], which I ended up purchasing to drink at an upcoming dinner...
11680 Chimney Rock Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446
805-591-3224
www.justinwine.com
Thu 07/25/2024, 03:15p-04:05p
A group of us recently drove up to Northern California, and on the way there, our plan was to stop by Paso Robles and visit a few wineries (it would be my first time there). Unfortunately, we wound up having time for only one, and ended up choosing Justin, which I wasn't very familiar with.
The Central Coast winery was indeed founded by a guy named Justin--Justin Baldwin--back in 1981, with the goal of making Bordeaux-style blends. Currently headed by Winemaker Scott Shirley (The Hess Collection, Opus One), they've been pretty successful from what I gather, and Justin does appear to be one of the more well-known producers in the AVA. Interestingly, Justin was purchased by Stewart and Lynda Resnick back in 2010, and now resides under the Wonderful Company umbrella along with the couple's other brands, mostly notably Teleflora, POM Wonderful, and Fiji Water.
Here we see the main tasting room, which is primarily a standing-only sort of affair, though there is plenty of seating outside on the patio.
You'll find multiple imbibing options here. The basic unit of consumption is the standard wine flight, priced at $49, which is waived with a $100 purchase. I opted for the premium flight at $80, waived given my $200 purchase (see below). In addition, there's a heritage flight at $150 with a choice of five older bottlings. You can also order wine by the glass or by the bottle, and there are even off-menu library selections that you have to inquire about (as I did). Food is certainly an option as well. Click for larger versions.
1: 2021 Savant | 54% Syrah, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon
The first wine of my tasting was a near-equal blend of Syrah and Cab, one that brought a bouquet filled with juicy notes of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte as well as a distinct woodsy spice. On the palate, I found a potent tannic structure, with flavors of tart berry fruits joined by a palpable underpinning of olive-y brine and herb.
2: 2017 Justification | 65% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot
My second wine was ostensibly inspired by Bordeaux's right bank. I found the California claret rather peppery on the nose, with supporting nuances of oak and violets. Taking a sip, this was full and ripe, its jammy dark fruits evened out by herbaceous and woodsy qualities.
3: 2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
The lone single-varietal wine of the afternoon, this one was all about aromas of sour, stewed fruit intertwined with tobacco-y spice. I found it surprisingly supple on the palate, its flavors of dark, ripe berries countered by sweet, perfume-y spices.
4: 2020 Isosceles | 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot
And now we come to Justin's flagship wine. The nose here was lively, offering up zippy red fruits commingled with cedar-y spices. Taste-wise, I found things well-balanced, with full-bodied dark fruits set against spicy, oaky nuances and a distinct mintiness.
Bonus: 2014 Isosceles | 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Along with the '20 above, I was graciously offered a complimentary serving of the '14 Isosceles for comparison purposes, and it was quite a different experience. The nose on this one showcased more signs of age, and had this earthy quality to go along with its more mature presentation of cacao-laced fruit. On the palate, the wine still conveyed a healthy dosing of tannins and acidity, while flavors alternated between herbaceous and fruity, and interestingly enough, I also got this nearly "cakey" sensation.
5: 2019 Isosceles Reserve | 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Today's final wine just might've been my favorite of the bunch (along with the '14 Isosceles above). The bouquet here was all about lush black fruit, but presented in a "dusty", oaky manner. Taking a sip, the juice was full and soft on the palate, with an eminently balanced presentation of rich fruit, herb, and a bit of that forest floor.
As you may know, I tend to like the older stuff as far as wines go, so I inquired about the oldest bottle in the winery's library, and was shown the 1999 Justin Isosceles [$327], which I ended up purchasing to drink at an upcoming dinner...
posted by kevinEats at
3:15 PM
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