2022 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's bitterly cold here today as I witnessed our high temp of the day of just 7 degrees mid-afternoon, and now we are headed back to zero!  This is a perfect day to stay indoors with a bottle of big Cabernet Sauvignon, and that's what I'm doing, with a bottle that I just picked up from my local market today.  The 2022 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is a long-time favorite from Paso Robles (see my reviews of the 2013, 2015 and 2017), consistently a solid wine at a very reasonable price.  Let's see what this vintage has to offer.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, perhaps a bit lighter bodied than you might expect.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak and cassis that will have you imagining being transported to a nineteenth century library complete with smoking room.  The first sip is a rather surprising combination of earthy notes and ripe fruit, roasted hazelnuts, black cherry, dusty limestone and toasted oak that transition easily to some hints of green grass and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are rather subdued, but still supportive of the long, smooth dry finish that lingers with oak on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a lovely Cabernet, but perhaps a bit too heavy on the oak for some tastes (though I find it delightful when sitting by the fireplace).  This wine would pair well with a range of winter dishes, from hearty beef stew to baked lasagna, braised short ribs to Yankee pot roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bone-in ribeye over a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms, with a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles

Well, what do you know, three days of posting in a row!  I thought it was a good idea to open another one of my mistakenly free bottles of wine, this time it's the 2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (58%), Mourvèdre (34%) and Syrah (8%) all harvested from Paso Robles, California.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a seemingly heavier body than you might expect from a GSM blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals enticing aromas of strawberry, rose petals and green grass that will have you fully engaged.  The first sip is an unexpected rush of sweet ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and a hint of raspberry that easily transition to some earthy notes of tar and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, providing for a pleasant dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant and easy drinking Rhône-style blend that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from fish to tacos, barbecue to grilled lamb chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon filet, steamed rice and sugar snap peas, as I sip this wine for the remainder of my Monday evening.  Cheers!

2023 Eberle Zinfandel

Well it's been a great weekend so far!  Today I had a retreat for the folks that volunteer to serve breakfast at the green room at church, and we cooked a couple of delicious chicken dishes that we enjoyed at lunch.  After that, I ran some errands, met with some friends to socialize, and then went to get some groceries, so now it's time to relax with a nice dinner.  And of course, that means opening a bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that was a surprise gift, you see yesterday I received a half case of wine from a winery that my aunt and uncle love. They send me a couple of bottled every Christmas, but apparently the winery made an error and substituted my address for theirs and so I received their wine club shipment!  The winery acknowledged the error and as a result, I got six free bottles of wine!  So, I thought it appropriate to enjoy one tonight, and I've opened a bottle of 2023 Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel, let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Zinfandel.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, dried herbs and kirsch that will have you reaching for a sip.  That first taste is a rush of ripe berry fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that envelop your palate before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are subdued but still provide a vibrant base for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of ripe berries at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from burgers and tacos, to barbecue and Asian wings.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a more refined dinner of surf and turf, a rare, pan seared bison filet mignon, with a steamed lobster tail, mushroom alfredo pasta and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2020 Eberle Paso Robles Barbera

Happy Saturday!  Today was a day of modest achievement, as I visited with some friends, then went grocery shopping, then came home and started preparing for my taxes, which was quite the adventure (at least is doesn't seem like I'll be writing any large checks in April!).  And now it's time to relax with a bottle of wine as I cook some of what I bought at the store today.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Eberle Paso Robles Barbera, which was a Christmas gift from my aunt and uncle, as they are big fans of this winery and Paso Robles wines generally.  This wine is a 100% Barbera from the Bootjack Ranch (35%), Steinbeck (33%) and Partridge (32%) vineyards in Paso Robles.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, fig and cherry, with undertones of vanilla bean, dried sage and toasted oak.  A first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, plum and blackberry that easily shifts gears toward some oak and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide for a very smooth dry finish than lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking wine that would pair well with a range of dishes.  This wine would be ideal with hearty Italian pasta dishes, lamb, venison, or earthy wild mushroom risotto. Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner a day early, herb crusted roast beef with carrots, celery, onions, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, along with a fresh gravy I made with the broth. Cheers!

2016 Lasorda Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I've spent the afternoon wrapping presents and getting ready for my first neighborhood Christmas party this evening.  But first I need to cook dinner and enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I bought a couple years ago at a local wine shop, the 2016 Lasorda Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, boysenberry and toasted oak, with just a hint of mint underneath.  Take a sip and you're blasted with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and cassis that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are refined, providing the base for a very long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking everyday Cabernet that would pair well with a variety of big beef dishes, from steaks to prime rib to braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Kansas City strip along with some bacon roasted white asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2018 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a long couple weeks off, and tomorrow I am back to work, so why not enjoy one last nice bottle of wine before then?  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Trader Joe's, the 2018 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  I've not tried any of the wines from Daou before, but I have heard some good things, so I couldn't pass up buying a bottle when I saw it at Trader Joes.  So, let's see how this wine tastes.  

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Cabernet.  A cascade of black currant, cherry and plum invigorates your nose with the first whiff, along with a bit of leather and some light notes of lavender.  The taste is classic Cabernet, but not the big, punch in the face Cabernet you'd expect from Napa, but this one is delightfully fruit forward, with blackberry and currant throughout, with a bit of black pepper spice and eucalyptus midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and very well integrated for a lingering dry finish, with a good bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really nice example of the varietal that highlights the interesting fruit and terroir of Paso Robles.  This wine was also a good value at just $25 at Trader Joe's.  This wine would pair well with a lot of hearty, classic dishes, from steaks and chops to prime rib and hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime, bone in ribeye grilled rare, along with a baked potato and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  This had been a crazy day by all accounts, starting with a power outage, the second in a week - it's like I'm living in California but with crappy weather!  Speaking of California, that's where tonight's wine hails from, the 2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, from a long-time favorite producer from Paso Robles. Oddly enough, it seems I've developed a trend of only enjoying the odd-year vintages of Justin Cabernet, as I've enjoyed the 2013, 2015 and now the 2017.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky deep indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a solid Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you are treated to a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum, with hints of lavender underneath, suggesting more of an old-world style of Cabernet.  The first sip is a rush of jammy fruit at first, that eases into some earthy notes of green grass and sharp mineral notes.  The tannins are firm, but well integrated, setting the stage for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet, and at just $24 it's one you can enjoy on a weeknight.  This wine would pair well with beef, lots of beef, as well as casual summer dishes from burgers to barbecue to pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York strip, with some fire roasted peppers, oven roasted baby potatoes and some steamed Italian beans.  Cheers!

2013 Justin Isosceles

Happy Saturday!  I spent a good portion of the morning helping move and construct set pieces for the upcoming Elkhart Civic Theatre production of "The Music Man", but then I had the chance to relax a bit this afternoon and catch up on some errands and other projects.  After such an unremarkable day, I thought it would be good to head the other direction with a remarkable wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Justin Isosceles, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Cabernet Franc (16%) and Merlot (9%) from Paso Robles that I find much more pleasing that about any wine from Napa.  So, let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from such a heavy Cabernet focused blend.  The nose is classic and rich, with notes of vanilla bean, smoke, leather and cedar that exudes quality.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of green herb, mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are chewy, supporting a long, velvety finish with a reprise of black cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful wine that illustrates the quality potential from this region, yet it's eminently approachable.  This wine is begging to be paired with a big steak, or perhaps even some barbecued brisket.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon on a bed of grilled garlic scapes, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts (is there a better combination of flavors?)
and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  I don't think I can recall the last time the first of the month fell on a Saturday, so this is a bit of a bonus Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of the month when I raid the cellar looking for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I likely bought nearly a decade ago, and honestly I bought it because I loved the label, the 2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon, a whimsical Cabernet from Paso Robles.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has the classic color of a Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is chock full of rich, jammy fruit that's quite reminiscent of a Zinfandel, blackberry, candied plum and black cherry intermingled with sandalwood and a bit of spice box.  The taste is remarkably vibrant despite it's maturity, with a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry that transitions nicely to some earthy leather and peat, with a nice touch of peppery spice toward the finish.  The tannins are very well structured, providing a lovely foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish, that is remarkably Bordeaux-esque.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this would stack up well some some prime Napa Cabernets, but as I recall, this wine was a bargain well under $20!  It would pair well with a big steak, casual summer meals such as barbecued ribs, burgers or even grilled trout.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime Filet Mignon grilled rare with a big baked potato, and grilled leeks and fresh asparagus (the new crop from Michigan finally came in!).  Cheers!

2016 Corvelia Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit it was entirely too hot an humid to do anything outdoors today, so I spent most of the afternoon doing laundry and watching movies, so now it's time to enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Corvelia Red Wine, a red wine blend from Paso Robles that I picked up at Trader Joe's last week.  I am a sucker for packaging, so I freely admit I bought this one because it had a cool bottle and label, so let's see how the wine actually tastes!

Although I have no idea what grapes are in this blend, the wine has a deep, purple and ruby color that's clearly reminiscent of a nice Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon, which wouldn't be surprising for a wine from Paso Robles.  The nose presents aromas of leather, anise, blackberry and cherry.  The taste is a wonderful rush of fruit up front, an interesting combination of ripe blackberry and plum intermingled with tart cherry, which transitions to some spice notes of white pepper and cherry cola midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but well built, providing a nice base for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very pleasant, easy drinking wine that was also a nice value for just $11.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and chops to pizza, tacos and barbecue.  But tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petite Angus porterhouse over a bed of grilled leeks along with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2014 Justin Isosceles

Ahh, Sunday fun day, but not much for me as I was working in the yard for much of it, trimming some tree branches and working on the roof over my screened in porch.  Of course, with the recent heat we've been having, after working in it I am ready to relax!  So tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that I first tried a few years ago when I was on the Napa Valley Wine Train, and I finally opened one of the bottles I've accumulated since that trip, the 2014 Justin Isosceles.  This wine has been the signature wine for Justin since 1987 and it's made of a blend of three varietals, and for the 2014 vintage it was Cabernet Sauvignon (73%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Merlot (12%) all from Paso Robles.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine has a wonderful, inky dark center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a classically layered blend of ripe black cherry, black currant and leather with a hint of spice box at the back.  The taste is a rush of cool, ripe fruit up front, that's at first a bit sweet and then tart, which transitions nicely to some notes of vanilla, cedar and graphite midpalate, with a hint of black pepper spice at the end.  The tannins are chewy, giving nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really everything a blend of these three varietals should be, with a big presence and lot's of bold flavor.  Although this wine is a little pricey (I bought this bottle at Costco for about $60), I think it's well worth it for Sunday dinner or any special occasion.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, but it practically begs to be paired with a big ol' steak, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big tomahawk ribeye, grilled Pittsburgh rare with some mashed potatoes and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2015 Justin Justification

Happy Sunday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from Justin, a producer I've admired since I was introduced to them on the Napa Valley Wine train a few years ago.  I am opening a bottle of 2015 Justin Justification, a wonderful right bank inspired blend of Cabernet Franc (52%) and Merlot (48%) from Paso Robles, just slightly different than the 2014 vintage (which you can read about here).  I picked this one up last week at Costco, so let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from these two varietals.  The nose is a wonderful combination of rich leather, fig and smoke, the kind of aromas that really get my mouth watering.  The taste is wonderfully old world, with a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some green grass and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are youthful and a bit sharp, but the finish is long and very dry, with a reprise of tart cherry and Bordeaux like funk at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine with a truly old-world style.  This wine would pair very well with steak, ribs, chops or a nice charcuterie plate, but tonight I am enjoying this one with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye with some grilled asparagus and corn on the cob, what a wonderful Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

2013 Camatta Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of last month's wine club selection, the 2013 Camatta Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  I got this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, and since it was a wine club selection, you know it was a bargain, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color, somewhat lighter than the more robust Napa Valley Cabernets.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy aromas, smoke, green grass and oak over some subdued fruit notes of blackberry and cherry with just a hint of anise.  The taste is refreshingly fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry and currant over a base of dark chocolate, that transitions nicely to some notes of dusty limestone and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a pleasant, easy drinking wine, but it really didn't knock my socks off.  It was also a wonderful bargain at just $13, so it could be a nice everyday wine.  This would pair well with steaks and chops, barbecued ribs or pasta, but tonight I'm just enjoying it with that great American dinner of leftovers!  Cheers!

2015 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

When I first visited Napa Valley on the Napa Valley Wine Train back in 2015, I met some folks on the train that shared a bottle of Justin Isosceles with me and I've been a fan of Justin ever since.  It was just about two years ago that I reviewed the 2013 vintage of the Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon (you can see that post here) and tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2015 vintage that I recently picked up at my local Meijer store.  So let's see how this one is shaping up.

The wine is a deep, ruby color in the glass, classic Cabernet.  The nose is a rush of leather, black stone fruit and a hint of mint that just call out to you to take a sip.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, plum, cherry and currant with undertones of smoke and dried flowers that transitions to some mild notes of pipe tobacco and a hint of black pepper.  The tannins are firm and well integrated, creating a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Cabernet and a terrific value at just $22.  This wine would pair well with steaks, braised short ribs or pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared veal loin chop along with some roasted baby bok choy and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!