Justin – Isosceles – Paso Robles – 2005

After 10 hours in the car, it was such a relief to pull up to my brother’s home in LA. Not only has it been too long since I have seen him, but I knew there was the chance of really good wine…and I wasn’t wrong! Doug and Minda have a membership with Justin Vineyards & Winery (it’s a new thing, check it out!)


This wonderful red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot. Based out of Paso Robles, California, this could potentially be considered its flagship wine. The label provides a somewhat serious description of the growing, harvesting, blending and eventual bottling of this wine. Although rather dry reading, it gives the drinker a great basis for understanding the incredible woodsy flavors that inhabit the deep red depths of the glass.

A generous sniff provides the recipient with plenty of blackberry and you may even get some of the french oak that this wine is aged in. As you may know from prior posts, I am no wine aficionado, but this is quite something else. I have no clue how much it costs, but I am fairly certain that it will not fall within my $10 budget. Additionally, you probably won’t find it at the liquor store, at least in Utah. There is an off chance that you may find it at a restaurant, or the odd wine distributor. I am pretty sure it will cost you more that (quite a bit more), than most of the wines you purchase and drink immediately. But, you have to find it. It is a wine that you can fall into oh so easily – slightly spicy, with generous fruit flavors.

Minda, who has more experience with Justin wines than I do, and has tasted more aged Isosceles wines, feels that is could age a little longer. In the past, older Isosceles (bottles which had been put away, forgotten, and re-discovered years later), resulted in full, velvety flavors, that she remembers with fond words, as though reminiscing about old friends. And, those of you who have tasted the really delicious aged wines, know that a great wine is like an old friend, it holds your hand, tells you everything will be just fine, and puts you to bed with a gentle hug and kiss.

I recommend you start looking for a bottle, and put it away in a cool (around 52 degrees), dark place, on it’s side. Forget about, then when you are re-modelling, moving or doing some long needed spring cleaning and find it – open it up, let it take a breath, and sit down to enjoy with a good friend. Minda and I have made short work of several bottles of Justin red this weekend, so you may want to find more than one!

Cheers!