One of my favorite wineries in California is Justin. Located in Paso Robles, Justin creates old world wines with Bordeaux varieties. Justin continuously releases some of the most interesting blends coming out of California.
I was first introduced to Justin in 2005 while enjoying an ORPHAN–I quickly became a fan. After trying the Isosceles a few years later I became an advocate. The fuse of climate, varietals, and old world winemaking produces an interesting new world wine with old school sensibility.
The 2009 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect entry level offering–both to the region and the winery. The alcohol content is a little on the high side at 14.5%. The color is a deep ruby.
On the nose are notes of plum, chocolate, dill, and smoke. The palate shows cassis, spicebox, dark fruit, and a hint of mint. The tannins are on the heavier side but relax after 15 mintutes. The wine is well balanced with minor complexity and a smooth finish. It is definitely a “full bodied” wine, but not terribly overpowering compared to many California Cabs.
Pair this with steak, pasta, lamb. *Do not pair this with any sort of chili. I made this mistake last week.