The 2012 Justin Isosceles pours a deep, garnet hue, indicative of its age and richness. On the nose, it captivates with aromas of ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, and dark cherries, intertwined with elegant notes of vanilla, cedar, and a touch of graphite.
On the palate, the wine offers a harmonious blend of dark fruit flavors such as blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum. These flavors are enriched by undertones of dark chocolate, espresso, and a subtle smokiness, adding depth and complexity. The wine’s full-bodied texture is framed by well-integrated, silky tannins and a vibrant acidity that ensures balance and a smooth finish.
The finish is long and lingering, with echoes of dark fruit, spice, and a hint of minerality.
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This wine is normally an 88 point type of wine. Solid but not great. I don’t know if it is just the perfect timing or other, but the flavor has exploded. Honestly, I could rate it higher than 94 but ithis wine normally isn’t this good. Wonderful right now.
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Our previous bottle of this wine was so enjoyable that we decided to experience this, our last bottle, soon after. Decanted for 1.5 hours and this wine was singing! Could one say that this wine is California's answer to Left Bank Bordeaux. Yes, one could -- and from Paso, not Napa!?
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Decanted (resulting in a small amount of sediment) and checked every 20 minutes. Quite closed initially - with only some faint green/vegetal notes on the nose - this wine did not really open up and integrate until the 1 hour and 20-minute tasting. At this point the wine presented a bowl of macerated dark fruits on the nose that followed on to the deep, dark, brooding medium plus palate -- mostly black fruits (blackberry, black currant) along with some wonderful blue and dark red fruits (blueberry, black cherry), and some earthiness. The acidity created balance, and the tannins were wonderfully integrated. This wine should hold for several years, but definitely needs a good decant to express itself fully.
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Fabulous nose of black plum, brown butter, vanilla, pipe tobacco, and cedar mulch - this baby was silky and voluptuous. Palate was rich with blackberries, brown sugar, and baked earth with fine-grained med-plus tannin, medium acidity and elevated but well integrated ABV. Much better than expected - drinking fabulously now!
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Full bodied with ripe black fruit, mostly cherry and black currant with mixed ripe berries and a little spice on the front. Tastes of autumn leaf (forest floor), leather, and cedar with rounded, plush tannins that extend into a long finish featuring black cherry and vanilla notes. Very good.
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The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It tastes like blueberry, red currant and mushroom to my palate
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Still seems young and acidic. A bit short on the palate. Blackberries and green peppercorns give way to oaky charcoal. Was expecting more from this wine at 8 years.
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It aged well in my wine frig at 53 degrees for 5 plus years. Fruit was well defined and light on the Tannins. Can’t wait to open the last three bottles.
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Aromas of herbs & spices leaping from the glass (thanks to the Cab Franc?). Garnet in color, fruit is somewhat diminished, which allowed more complex flavors to show themselves. 15.5% ABV was well concealed. In a great place to drink right now. Not sure how much longer it will hold up.
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Nice Bordeaux mix California wine here. The nose is filled with notes of toasted coconut, pencil shavings, tobacco, licorice, black pepper, and pretty decent dose of oak. The palate is full bodied, easy drinking, and nicely integrated tannins. There is a bite to it in the mid palate that comes from the 15.5% alcohol! Nice finish. Overall really enjoyed this well made wine, drinks above its price point - however the alcohol content is a bit too high for our liking, it takes away from overall balance of the wine.
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Great blend with dark cherry fruit and note of spice, currant, licorice and vanilla. Active tannins initially that need at least an hour to calm and integrate into the fruit.
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like cherry, plum and mineral. It tastes like mineral, cherry, blackberry, black currant (cassis), vanilla, diacetyl (butter) and flint. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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Dark ruby/purple in the glass: notes of licorice, spice, fennel. Took an hour to open up, but warmer notes and more fruit emerged. Tannins are very restrained but there is a structure that holds it all together. More time will still help the 2012s I believe.
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Great tasting wine that has improved with age nicely. Good dark fruit flavors in a nice bordeaux style blend. Let breathe for 1 to 2 hours before drinking.
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A big mouthful of blackberry and plum. Sweet spice and just enough freshness to keep this in check. This tiptoes the line deftly, staying just on the side of outstanding and staying away from too much. It's perilously close.
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Although the wine is made fine this came off ultra over ripe with black licorice and sweet plum. Holding out on the other two bottles to see if it comes together somehow but the tannins were not noticeable and acid was not there either so not sure
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Decanted (resulting in a small amount of fine sediment) and checked every 1/2 hour. Quite closed initially, and did not open up sufficiently until 1.5 - 2 hours. Began developing a green/eucalyptus/herbal aroma after about one hour, which matured and deepened with air time. These notes followed onto the medium plus palate, along with some wonderful dark red fruits (dark cherry), a touch of blue fruits, and some earthiness. The acidity created balance, and the tannins were wonderfully integrated. As I am sensitive to, and not a fan of, the eucalyptus notes (pyrazine?), I deducted a couple of points. Should note that I don't recall experiencing these notes in a previous Justin wine - could it be vintage related, or bottle variation? This wine should hold for several years, but definitely needs air to express itself.
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"On the nose the vegetal herbal smell of the cab Franc comes through followed by rich berries and blue berries, palate coating texture of blueberries and blackberries with low acidity. Some camphor or menthol is present in the finish as well. Could use more structure."
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Nicely balanced, in your face Bordeaux based wine. Huge nose upon uncorking, with aromatics filling the room. Very concentrated, black fruits and long, long finish. Much lighter 2nd day, but no hint of oxidation and still very enjoyable. This is not a super complex wine but the purity of fruit is amazing. Would like to try this again in 2019-2020.
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Decanted 90 min, nearly opaque ruby color, big nose with some heat, med+ mouthfeel, long finish with too much alc, suggest longer decant, pair with hearty foods or wait another year.
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Magnificent new world Bordeaux blend. Huge glycerine like mouth coating texture. Great dark fruit, soft but present tannins holding it all together. Just a touch of acidity before a very long finish ....so wish we had more ....oh well better go back to the USA to get some more.
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Decanted--took 1 hour to open, and near 2 hours to sing. The nose revealed a bowl of red fruits and some cedar. These followed onto the palate with some darker fruits, and a touch of tobacco. Very round and nicely balanced without a trace of the big alcohol on the finish. Our guests, who are big fans of Justin Cabernet, were pleasingly overwhelmed by this "big brother". The wine should have many years ahead.
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This was the second bottle of this wine on Thanksgiving. This was a pnp and suffered a little because of it. Never developed fully like the bottle I gave a 90 minute decant. Still very good but not the same level of nuances and depth.
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Drank on Thanksgiving after a 1 1/2 hour decant. This was singing right out of the gate. Very nice balance and depth. This abused a 2012 Caymus. Even some beginning wine drinkers that I opened the Caymus for loved this bottle. Can't wait to try the 2013 Isosceles.
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Smooth, velvety coating. Easy to drink. Beautiful to drink slowly. Moderated fruit forward on the palate. Slight but pleasant vanilla nose. A bit of tobacco and chocolate on the finish. Surprisingly soft and sensual to drink.
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Gave it at least an hour to open and it could have used a bit more. Still a tad tight, but still enjoyable. Like some previous notes, a bit heavy with oak and vanilla. This wine should continue to integrate over time and reward you for your patience.
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PnP. This was not as open as previous bottles I have drank. Could have used at least an hour decant, two would be better. The 2012 had been drinking very well young.
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Very nice drinker. Full body, lots of dark fruit, lush mouth feel, well balanced, smooth and very soft with barely noticeable tannins. Quite balanced for such a young wine. Good length on the finish.
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It took just 30 minutes in the decanter for all the various flavor components to integrate. Obviously quite young, but enjoyable now for sure. Rich cherry, vanilla, maybe a little too much sweetness. Extraordinarily smooth--the large amount of alcohol is hardly noticeable. A little short on the finish, but otherwise a very enjoyable crowd-pleasing wine. I see other tasters who have recommended a very long decant. I don't think that's strictly necessary but I will try that next time to see where the flavors (especially the sweetness) go.
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Drank in flight with 2013 Isosceles; after a few hours, the 2012 opened up beautifully. Soft feel, good favors. Definitely recommend decanting at least a few hours prior to enjoyment. Aloha!
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Very dark purple in color. Not much on the nose maybe slight hints of Violet and maybe a mix of chocolate and vanilla. On the palate very smooth and integrated but still strong tannins (in a good way). Really nice structure yet easy to drink. Moderate to long finish. In a nice drinking spot.
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Decanted 6 hours. The nose was really shut down after six hours, opened up in the glass. Tart cherry, musk, and vanilla. The palate complex and velvety smooth. Cherry, graphite, slightly dusty. Great wine, but needs several hours of air or a few more years in the bottle.
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Absolutely love this wine!! I've always been a fan of Isosceles but this 2012 is just fantastic! The 15.5% abv made me significantly nervous but this wine is definitely balanced and shows no overt sign of alcohol. I will be buying more of these to see how they develop...decanted this one for 5 hours before starting consumption...it continued to open up brilliantly over several hours and showed like a much more expensive Cabernet.
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All grape and berries at this point. Decanted half hour and wonder what more time would have done for it. Mixed response: some found it too cloying others loved the clear grape and candy notes. Hoping it gains in the bottle- will wait a year to try the next one.
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This is just a great bottle of wine. Tremendous value for $54 in the club. The influence of the merlot definitely softens the wine and makes it quite approachable in its infancy. The mouth feel is lush and pallet coating, with an excellent deep and long lasting finish. It will clearly get better with time, but I am really impressed with the way it is drinking right now. From a guy who mostly drinks higher end napa cabs, this really catches my eye. It may not quite hit the layered complexity and focus of those offerings, but it isn't far behind. For the price, this wine is a no brainer. Very curious to see how the Isosceles Reserve tastes from the same year.
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Are you kidding me! This is f'ing delicious. So smooth and flavorful. Not going to go into crap like tobacco, pomegranate, and other flavors I have no idea about.... Its just ungodly good. Will buy more or join club.
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Bottle was great at the opening. did not decant nor wait any time. Solid from the beginning. Very cherry and fruity notes from the first sip to the lingering flavors after the last swallow. Always a solid choice!
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I've never been a big fan of Justin wines but given the stellar 2012 season, I decided to give Iso another shot. Wow, what an improvement from prior years!!! This reminds me immediately of Napa's Lewis Cabernet. Deep plush black fruit, fantastic cinnamony oak, vanilla, coffee/mocha, and the finish just doesn't quit. I'd be shocked beyond belief if this doesn't finally earn Justin a 94 with WS. -- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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77/12/11 Cabernet/Merlot/Cab Franc. Nose shows lush black fruit, layers of deep flowers, baking spices. Palate is impressive, showy, juicy black plum, cassis, chocolate, blackberry, toasted vanilla, definitely a drink now or hold if you want structure. Medium tannins are soft, acidity medium, alcohol seems medium plus but it's labeled 15.5% (!), so nice balance and integration here. Both a crowd pleaser and collectible.
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Needed about 45 mins to open up but holy cow, off the hook good once it saw a little air. Vanilla, blackberry and a hint of spice..smooth like butter. Should develop nicely over the next 5-7 years. Quite impressive
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A little bit of infanticide but decided to open one. An excellent bottle of Bordeaux style blend with taste of currants and vanilla. This should hold up well for many years.
5/24/2024 - TurFam wrote: 91 Points
The 2012 Justin Isosceles pours a deep, garnet hue, indicative of its age and richness. On the nose, it captivates with aromas of ripe blackberries, blackcurrants, and dark cherries, intertwined with elegant notes of vanilla, cedar, and a touch of graphite.
On the palate, the wine offers a harmonious blend of dark fruit flavors such as blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum. These flavors are enriched by undertones of dark chocolate, espresso, and a subtle smokiness, adding depth and complexity. The wine’s full-bodied texture is framed by well-integrated, silky tannins and a vibrant acidity that ensures balance and a smooth finish.
The finish is long and lingering, with echoes of dark fruit, spice, and a hint of minerality.
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4/9/2024 - Alongfield Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is normally an 88 point type of wine. Solid but not great. I don’t know if it is just the perfect timing or other, but the flavor has exploded. Honestly, I could rate it higher than 94 but ithis wine normally isn’t this good. Wonderful right now.
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1/21/2024 - JeffAHarrison wrote:
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc
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12/2/2023 - Announcer wrote:
Waited too long on this one. Had turned.
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9/4/2023 - VlgJeff wrote: 93 Points
Our previous bottle of this wine was so enjoyable that we decided to experience this, our last bottle, soon after. Decanted for 1.5 hours and this wine was singing! Could one say that this wine is California's answer to Left Bank Bordeaux. Yes, one could -- and from Paso, not Napa!?
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8/26/2023 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted (resulting in a small amount of sediment) and checked every 20 minutes. Quite closed initially - with only some faint green/vegetal notes on the nose - this wine did not really open up and integrate until the 1 hour and 20-minute tasting. At this point the wine presented a bowl of macerated dark fruits on the nose that followed on to the deep, dark, brooding medium plus palate -- mostly black fruits (blackberry, black currant) along with some wonderful blue and dark red fruits (blueberry, black cherry), and some earthiness. The acidity created balance, and the tannins were wonderfully integrated. This wine should hold for several years, but definitely needs a good decant to express itself fully.
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7/4/2023 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still good. Soft and smooth.
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2/15/2023 - lachord Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby color. Still plenty of fruit. Hints of cherry, vanilla, and pepper.
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1/22/2023 - dlcass wrote: 87 Points
Nose of boysenberry and pine forest. Quite linear on palate and finish. Very simple.
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1/18/2023 - Bozekt wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous nose of black plum, brown butter, vanilla, pipe tobacco, and cedar mulch - this baby was silky and voluptuous. Palate was rich with blackberries, brown sugar, and baked earth with fine-grained med-plus tannin, medium acidity and elevated but well integrated ABV. Much better than expected - drinking fabulously now!
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11/24/2022 - pdxwinefan wrote:
Big, fruity crowd pleaser with Thanksgiving prime rib.
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11/21/2022 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Better than expected, high ABV is the only flaw, slightly unbalanced due to that.
Otherwise fairly enjoyable.
Slight bricking.
Drink now thru 2024/6
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7/29/2022 - wmorelos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full bodied with ripe black fruit, mostly cherry and black currant with mixed ripe berries and a little spice on the front. Tastes of autumn leaf (forest floor), leather, and cedar with rounded, plush tannins that extend into a long finish featuring black cherry and vanilla notes. Very good.
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7/24/2022 - JimmyR Likes this wine: 92 Points
excellent
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7/8/2022 - Ducati-red Likes this wine: 91 Points
Once again hard to go wrong with Justin isosceles. Light tannins fruit forward and falls well on the back of the tongue. Easy on the palate.
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5/10/2022 - cameronleespencer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Refined if a bit restrained on the nose. Notes of fig and black cherry preserves, laced with baking spice and cedar.
Good acid, full body smooth tannins. Will wait 3-5 years before opening the next bottle.
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4/23/2022 - LazyN Does not like this wine:
Very over the hill. Musty and dull. Stored in temperature and humidity controlled celler after pick up from winery.
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1/7/2022 - Wine Boy wrote: 89 Points
A step up from the 2011. Took awhile to open and decanting made the difference. It like the 2011 is definitely moving to the end of drinkability.
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12/5/2021 - P&KCellars Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine looks crimson colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It tastes like blueberry, red currant and mushroom to my palate
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10/27/2021 - brasstab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Explosive on all levels. Even at this age and with an hour of decant, totally delivered.
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8/26/2021 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice. Always good.
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3/28/2021 - MDRwinos wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Med full body. Refined tannins. Darker fruit. In a good place now. Don't think it will evolve further.
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3/18/2021 - BRWC wrote:
To Arlington with Frattos
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1/23/2021 - Andrew.Koss wrote: 94 Points
It’s everything it’s supposed to be! Drink up.
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1/17/2021 - steve1999_CA Does not like this wine: 80 Points
No subtly at all. Couldn't even finish drinking it. Very disappointed.
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1/2/2021 - 1kuhlman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, big, elegant. Superb wine.
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12/26/2020 - Cellartracker@drkayem.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still seems young and acidic. A bit short on the palate. Blackberries and green peppercorns give way to oaky charcoal. Was expecting more from this wine at 8 years.
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12/12/2020 - Vasily Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruity and full. Earth/woodsy from the CabFranc. Would have rated higher but the alcohol content is too much for me.
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9/12/2020 - RBurgundy99 wrote: 88 Points
This was ok but did not meet expectations. Pretty flat, even after a 1-hour decant. Did not improve over the subsequent hour.
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8/8/2020 - Ducati-red Likes this wine: 95 Points
It aged well in my wine frig at 53 degrees for 5 plus years. Fruit was well defined and light on the Tannins. Can’t wait to open the last three bottles.
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7/7/2020 - jroberts86 wrote: 86 Points
a bit hot, over ripe and jammy
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6/12/2020 - Eantnay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aromas of herbs & spices leaping from the glass (thanks to the Cab Franc?). Garnet in color, fruit is somewhat diminished, which allowed more complex flavors to show themselves. 15.5% ABV was well concealed. In a great place to drink right now. Not sure how much longer it will hold up.
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5/23/2020 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice Bordeaux mix California wine here. The nose is filled with notes of toasted coconut, pencil shavings, tobacco, licorice, black pepper, and pretty decent dose of oak. The palate is full bodied, easy drinking, and nicely integrated tannins. There is a bite to it in the mid palate that comes from the 15.5% alcohol! Nice finish. Overall really enjoyed this well made wine, drinks above its price point - however the alcohol content is a bit too high for our liking, it takes away from overall balance of the wine.
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2/15/2020 - Grateful4Red Likes this wine: 93 Points
We drank this right after a 2011 Isosceles, and this was better. Very nicely balanced, long finish.
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1/24/2020 - jy_wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well
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12/31/2019 - squiddo wrote: 92 Points
So good. Holds up after breathing for .45-60 mins
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12/30/2019 - Grateful4Red Likes this wine: 93 Points
Oh, so delicious!
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11/11/2019 - millerarner wrote: 92 Points
Still in a great spot.
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8/23/2019 - Vinofitz wrote: 90 Points
Nose seemed off, hints of sour milk, green branch but settled into more classic cab on the palate. Cherry and spice... almost a Zinfandel profile.
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8/7/2019 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great blend with dark cherry fruit and note of spice, currant, licorice and vanilla. Active tannins initially that need at least an hour to calm and integrate into the fruit.
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7/7/2019 - Red@Sunset Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like cherry, plum and mineral. It tastes like mineral, cherry, blackberry, black currant (cassis), vanilla, diacetyl (butter) and flint. The body is full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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5/18/2019 - millerarner wrote: 92 Points
Showing well right now.
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5/4/2019 - Vinofitz wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby/purple in the glass: notes of licorice, spice, fennel. Took an hour to open up, but warmer notes and more fruit emerged. Tannins are very restrained but there is a structure that holds it all together. More time will still help the 2012s I believe.
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2/2/2019 - Deryck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great tasting wine that has improved with age nicely. Good dark fruit flavors in a nice bordeaux style blend. Let breathe for 1 to 2 hours before drinking.
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12/22/2018 - KevinShari wrote:
Drink is part of Christmas celebration 2018
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11/21/2018 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
A big mouthful of blackberry and plum. Sweet spice and just enough freshness to keep this in check. This tiptoes the line deftly, staying just on the side of outstanding and staying away from too much. It's perilously close.
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11/11/2018 - 1997cobalt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth. Tannins are soft yet present. Did enjoy
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7/17/2018 - Griffeyfan04 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Although the wine is made fine this came off ultra over ripe with black licorice and sweet plum. Holding out on the other two bottles to see if it comes together somehow but the tannins were not noticeable and acid was not there either so not sure
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7/11/2018 - VlgJeff wrote: 89 Points
Decanted (resulting in a small amount of fine sediment) and checked every 1/2 hour. Quite closed initially, and did not open up sufficiently until 1.5 - 2 hours. Began developing a green/eucalyptus/herbal aroma after about one hour, which matured and deepened with air time. These notes followed onto the medium plus palate, along with some wonderful dark red fruits (dark cherry), a touch of blue fruits, and some earthiness. The acidity created balance, and the tannins were wonderfully integrated.
As I am sensitive to, and not a fan of, the eucalyptus notes (pyrazine?), I deducted a couple of points. Should note that I don't recall experiencing these notes in a previous Justin wine - could it be vintage related, or bottle variation? This wine should hold for several years, but definitely needs air to express itself.
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6/27/2018 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Nicely balanced with blueberries, tannins, and earth.
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5/16/2018 - UofM Likes this wine: 91 Points
only 2 left. Tasting notes the same as prior.
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3/22/2018 - tdskier Likes this wine: 93 Points
A year later this wine continues to drink very nicely. A nice blackberry on the initial taste with a smooth spice.
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3/19/2018 - linkswinelover6549 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful balanced. Delicious now and even better in 3 years
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12/8/2017 - Kentw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar to last bottle. Good and smooth.
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10/28/2017 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Note from over 1 year ago.
"On the nose the vegetal herbal smell of the cab Franc comes through followed by rich berries and blue berries, palate coating texture of blueberries and blackberries with low acidity. Some camphor or menthol is present in the finish as well. Could use more structure."
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9/17/2017 - Mistermuse Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nicely balanced, in your face Bordeaux based wine. Huge nose upon uncorking, with aromatics filling the room. Very concentrated, black fruits and long, long finish. Much lighter 2nd day, but no hint of oxidation and still very enjoyable. This is not a super complex wine but the purity of fruit is amazing. Would like to try this again in 2019-2020.
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8/30/2017 - StainedGlass wrote: 90 Points
Sweet, rick dark jammy red and black fruit, with some smokiness and well integrated oak. Drink now and by 2020.
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7/4/2017 - RedValues Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted 90 min, nearly opaque ruby color, big nose with some heat, med+ mouthfeel, long finish with too much alc, suggest longer decant, pair with hearty foods or wait another year.
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6/9/2017 - CJLang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank on a Friday eve after a rough day at work...just perfect. Good flavorful wine with super smooth finish. Easy drinker.
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5/10/2017 - tdskier Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine continues to be our favorite. Full if flavor, blackberry. Very nice smooth silky finish.
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12/29/2016 - Kentw wrote: 90 Points
Lush mouth feel, mixed red and black fruits. Good balance with some acidity and soft to imperceptible tannins.
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12/25/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au wrote: 96 Points
Magnificent new world Bordeaux blend.
Huge glycerine like mouth coating texture.
Great dark fruit, soft but present tannins holding it all together. Just a touch of acidity before a very long finish ....so wish we had more ....oh well better go back to the USA to get some more.
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12/24/2016 - Fiat Lux Likes this wine: 93 Points
Typical Isosceles--delicious!
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12/24/2016 - gerdy411 wrote:
Jeff & DeAnn Christmas Eve dinner
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12/13/2016 - VlgJeff wrote: 91 Points
Decanted--took 1 hour to open, and near 2 hours to sing. The nose revealed a bowl of red fruits and some cedar. These followed onto the palate with some darker fruits, and a touch of tobacco. Very round and nicely balanced without a trace of the big alcohol on the finish. Our guests, who are big fans of Justin Cabernet, were pleasingly overwhelmed by this "big brother". The wine should have many years ahead.
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11/28/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was the second bottle of this wine on Thanksgiving. This was a pnp and suffered a little because of it. Never developed fully like the bottle I gave a 90 minute decant. Still very good but not the same level of nuances and depth.
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11/27/2016 - spdmfd Likes this wine:
Good
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11/24/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank on Thanksgiving after a 1 1/2 hour decant. This was singing right out of the gate. Very nice balance and depth. This abused a 2012 Caymus. Even some beginning wine drinkers that I opened the Caymus for loved this bottle. Can't wait to try the 2013 Isosceles.
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10/23/2016 - dansmack Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light nose, soft mouth feel, great flavor, awesome finish. Opened for about 30 minutes prior to tasting, getting better with each passing minute.
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10/18/2016 - Marignon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth, velvety coating. Easy to drink. Beautiful to drink slowly. Moderated fruit forward on the palate. Slight but pleasant vanilla nose. A bit of tobacco and chocolate on the finish. Surprisingly soft and sensual to drink.
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10/17/2016 - Babik Likes this wine: 91 Points
nose is plum vanilla cedar mocha latte. Palate adds spice box, sweet leather and tobacco, and ripe and unripe red fruit. Silky tannins. Long finish
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10/3/2016 - UofM Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gave it at least an hour to open and it could have used a bit more. Still a tad tight, but still enjoyable. Like some previous notes, a bit heavy with oak and vanilla. This wine should continue to integrate over time and reward you for your patience.
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9/28/2016 - Kentw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice drinker. Smooth, lush and great with a steak. Friends enjoyed it very much.
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8/5/2016 - Babik wrote: 90 Points
Too much vanilla/new oak. Don't remember it being so prominent in previous bottles.
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7/23/2016 - RayT Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. This was not as open as previous bottles I have drank. Could have used at least an hour decant, two would be better. The 2012 had been drinking very well young.
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7/19/2016 - ndh1112 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very smooth wine, it took less than 15 minutes to open up and be extremely enjoyable. Agree that it is a very full wine and was quite enjoyable.
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7/2/2016 - Kentw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice drinker. Full body, lots of dark fruit, lush mouth feel, well balanced, smooth and very soft with barely noticeable tannins. Quite balanced for such a young wine. Good length on the finish.
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6/25/2016 - pdxwinefan Likes this wine: 91 Points
It took just 30 minutes in the decanter for all the various flavor components to integrate. Obviously quite young, but enjoyable now for sure. Rich cherry, vanilla, maybe a little too much sweetness. Extraordinarily smooth--the large amount of alcohol is hardly noticeable. A little short on the finish, but otherwise a very enjoyable crowd-pleasing wine. I see other tasters who have recommended a very long decant. I don't think that's strictly necessary but I will try that next time to see where the flavors (especially the sweetness) go.
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5/23/2016 - dansmack Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank in flight with 2013 Isosceles; after a few hours, the 2012 opened up beautifully. Soft feel, good favors. Definitely recommend decanting at least a few hours prior to enjoyment. Aloha!
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5/14/2016 - rxfudd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well balance with integrated tannins. Good fruit. Nice bottle with filet mignon.
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4/8/2016 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Velvety smooth that leaves you with a big smile on the finish.
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3/31/2016 - jnocera Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very dark purple in color. Not much on the nose maybe slight hints of Violet and maybe a mix of chocolate and vanilla. On the palate very smooth and integrated but still strong tannins (in a good way). Really nice structure yet easy to drink. Moderate to long finish. In a nice drinking spot.
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2/29/2016 - UofM Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! Really nice, rounded out cab blend. The whole table agreed...glad I have 5 more bottles.
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2/4/2016 - theoz wrote:
I'm sure this will be great but it's way too early. I'd wait until at least 2018 or 19 before diving into more of this personally.
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1/24/2016 - cawineaux wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 6 hours. The nose was really shut down after six hours, opened up in the glass. Tart cherry, musk, and vanilla. The palate complex and velvety smooth. Cherry, graphite, slightly dusty. Great wine, but needs several hours of air or a few more years in the bottle.
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1/22/2016 - pauljenson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely love this wine!! I've always been a fan of Isosceles but this 2012 is just fantastic! The 15.5% abv made me significantly nervous but this wine is definitely balanced and shows no overt sign of alcohol. I will be buying more of these to see how they develop...decanted this one for 5 hours before starting consumption...it continued to open up brilliantly over several hours and showed like a much more expensive Cabernet.
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1/18/2016 - Mlbarrowjr wrote: 88 Points
Bottle inconsistency?
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1/16/2016 - garyty wrote: 91 Points
Crowd pleaser today that will evolve into something more complex and elegant in the future. Great wine.
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1/3/2016 - jrundlet Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smooth with vanilla notes. It took 5 hours before it opened up to reveal more complexity.
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11/29/2015 - Vinofitz wrote: 88 Points
All grape and berries at this point. Decanted half hour and wonder what more time would have done for it. Mixed response: some found it too cloying others loved the clear grape and candy notes. Hoping it gains in the bottle- will wait a year to try the next one.
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11/25/2015 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is just a great bottle of wine. Tremendous value for $54 in the club. The influence of the merlot definitely softens the wine and makes it quite approachable in its infancy. The mouth feel is lush and pallet coating, with an excellent deep and long lasting finish. It will clearly get better with time, but I am really impressed with the way it is drinking right now. From a guy who mostly drinks higher end napa cabs, this really catches my eye. It may not quite hit the layered complexity and focus of those offerings, but it isn't far behind. For the price, this wine is a no brainer. Very curious to see how the Isosceles Reserve tastes from the same year.
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10/25/2015 - RayT Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much better than the 2011. Can be drunk now but will improve with time. Opened up nicely after 45 minutes.
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9/13/2015 - SteveN100 wrote: 91 Points
Obviously young, nose full of ripe fruit and forest floor with a lot of tannins. Heavy on glycerin with a high ABV of 15.5%.
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9/9/2015 - ivsimler wrote: 92 Points
Are you kidding me! This is f'ing delicious. So smooth and flavorful. Not going to go into crap like tobacco, pomegranate, and other flavors I have no idea about.... Its just ungodly good. Will buy more or join club.
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9/5/2015 - Lee Fining wrote: 90 Points
Medium garnet red. Moderate dark fruit nose. Smooth, almost soft red fruit flavors. Classic Isosceles leaning towards the lighter side.
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8/8/2015 - Jay_R wrote: 92 Points
Drink with good friends!!
Bottle was great at the opening. did not decant nor wait any time. Solid from the beginning. Very cherry and fruity notes from the first sip to the lingering flavors after the last swallow. Always a solid choice!
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7/30/2015 - Gestalted Likes this wine: 94 Points
I've never been a big fan of Justin wines but given the stellar 2012 season, I decided to give Iso another shot. Wow, what an improvement from prior years!!! This reminds me immediately of Napa's Lewis Cabernet. Deep plush black fruit, fantastic cinnamony oak, vanilla, coffee/mocha, and the finish just doesn't quit. I'd be shocked beyond belief if this doesn't finally earn Justin a 94 with WS.
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Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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5/19/2015 - GTFreek wrote:
77/12/11 Cabernet/Merlot/Cab Franc. Nose shows lush black fruit, layers of deep flowers, baking spices. Palate is impressive, showy, juicy black plum, cassis, chocolate, blackberry, toasted vanilla, definitely a drink now or hold if you want structure. Medium tannins are soft, acidity medium, alcohol seems medium plus but it's labeled 15.5% (!), so nice balance and integration here. Both a crowd pleaser and collectible.
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5/3/2015 - clmtgr wrote: 92 Points
Needed about 45 mins to open up but holy cow, off the hook good once it saw a little air. Vanilla, blackberry and a hint of spice..smooth like butter. Should develop nicely over the next 5-7 years. Quite impressive
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4/8/2015 - cpeddy wrote: flawed
Pruney. Not good.
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2/13/2015 - monared wrote: 92 Points
A little bit of infanticide but decided to open one. An excellent bottle of Bordeaux style blend with taste of currants and vanilla. This should hold up well for many years.
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