Has certainly improved since last tasting 30 months ago. All the fruit (and the hint of pepper and earthy minerals) still there, and it has (thankfully) lost the odd seawater nose.
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Decant for one hour. Great balance of fruit and acid, strong finish. One left in the cellar and will hold it for another two years, but the 06 is drinking excellent now.
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Nose of fruit, pepper, and an odd mild hint of shellfish (or seawater?). Fruit forward, but not jammy. Not over oaked. Well balanced overall. Absolutely drinkable, and perhaps at its peak, and certainly will survive a bit longer (1 or 2 years?) in a good cellar.
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My last of four bottles, and I waited too long on this one. The Isosceles character is there—rich and juicy in the Paso Robles manner—but the wine is carrying an oxidative note that tells me it is high time—if not past time—to drink up. My cellar is closer to 60 than 55, but this has been stored in the quite dark since release, so: you who are still holding, hesitate no longer!
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A HUGE winner with the crowd from SoCal! I gave it a few hours to decant based on all the previous notes. It worked. Flavors of cinnamon and black current. Slightly floral and juicy, but improved in the glass with time. Anyone with a positive vibe for Justin will like this vintage and well-produced blend.
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This bottle, while still good, had passed its peak drinking window. This still had plenty of fruit left but the clove and pepper notes had diminished. Also, fruit dominated this. Tannins were absent.
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Cork pulled and allowed to slo-ox. Initial taste upon opening: some red and dark red fruits, but strong acidity and some drying tannins dominate. After 1 hour: the fruits begin to flesh out; the acidity is still strong, but the tannins start to integrate. after 4 hours: this is the wine everyone wants -- lots of dark red fruits (esp. dark cherry), a touch of cedar, completely integrated tannins, balanced acidity, all in a silky smooth, medium to plus bodied, medium to plus finish, not jammy, not hot, beautiful wine. Have one more bottle which should hold for at least a couple of years, but it will be hard to stay away.
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Decanted for 8 hours but set aside a glass to test every 2 hours. It’s amazing how this wine blossomed over 8 hours. It poured with a dark terra cotta color and turned a beautiful deep purple over the decanting period. The fragrance, taste and finish was amazing. It had a smoky, dark berry flavor, light tannins and the slightest acidity on finish. It is among the most well balanced wines I’ve ever tasted. This 12 year old wine was an outstanding bottle shared among great friends.
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Popped n slow Oed for 1-2 hours. Min sed n bricking. Nice redfruits on nose. Some spice n earth to boot. Soft resolved tannins. In a good place. Drank next to a old world wine, d05 Kirwan. New world won tonight..
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Decanted for an hour. Deep dark red color with berries and plums. Delicious with filet mignon sliders on pretzel buns with watercress. Full bodied and smooth; medium-plus finish. Not jammy as one might expect from from this Paso Robles producer.
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As others have stated, this wine is drinking well now. Decanted and dug in, full bodied but in a restrained, mature way. Smooth and delicious. Drank with fried oysters and crab cakes and worked very well. Bought and cellared on release.
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Slow O’d for for an hour. This is drinking beautifullly now, with nicely delineated fruit and well-integrated, powdery tannins. There is a strong element of cedar, which I find very appealing in a red Bordeaux blend. Very easy drinking, and at the peak of its consumption window.
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Black cherry, bramble fruit, some prune, menthe on the nose. Not much acidity-bordering on flabbly; flavors of aromas come thru strong on the palate as well as chocolate/mocha. Not a long finish, but flavors are still there. Medium tannin and moderately heavy weight. I have one more bottle and will drink it very soon as this wine has peaked.
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Quite a bit of sediment. Decanted and let it open up. Still holding up but it is definately time to drink. Fruit is starting to fade. Still quite good.
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Waited 7 years since I had the last bottle. Bummer, this wine is aging very poorly. Structure is washed out and fruit flavor is dominated by a distracting prune note.
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Enjoyed for a late Valentines celebration after a Codorniu Cava from Spain. The "06 was flat and the fruit flavors were subdued, not holding up well. Two 750 bottles left, should drink soon. Expect more from the '07.
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last of my 2006, still huge fruit especially berries. a bit of spice that is lost with the alcohol. tannins are moderate, finish less intense than other years. excellent wine overall.
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Earth fruit and rather angular tannins, agree with others that I should have drank this earlier by 2 year when my tastes still sought this style. Large jammy fruit with a medium finish, not too complex.
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Big fruit forward and bold. Medium garnet color. Opens to reveal loads of sweet blackberry and raspberry. Almost jam like on the palate. The sweetness is somewhat offset by the pepper and spice notes typical with Isosceles.
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Dark carmine red, lightening up just a tad at the rim. At first quite seductive nose: red and black fruit. On the palate sweet fruit that becomes sweeter and jammier as the wine warms and opens up. Quite a bit of tannin: On the dusty and astringent side. Gives the wine some heft. The wine is well made but it is an alcoholic bomb; at the end it reminds me of the wines from the Sierra Foothills. I should have drunk it 4 years ago when my taste had not changed so much yet. Will probably easily last another 5-8 years.
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We gathered some lucky friends to celebrate hubby’s birthday and poured a vertical of 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006. The 2009 and 2006 were the overwhelming favorites. The 2009 is drinking beautifully now (my husband’s favorite of the group) but has enough structure to age for a while. The 2009 had a significantly higher percentage of cabernet sauvignon compared to the other vintages. The 2006 is a lovely balance of soft tannins and blue fruit. This was my personal favorite. The 2008 is still a nice wine but seemed somewhat off balance and tight compared to the other vintages (even the younger 2009). Maybe it’s the addition of Petite Verdot, but it definitely stuck out as the least favorite. Some time in the decanter did help it open up, so I will hold on to what I have for a few more years to see what happens.
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Decanted for two hours. Strong nose of berries and floral. Very smooth on the palate. Opened up nicely over a few hours. Still plenty of life left in it.
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Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75): Dark core with garnet rim; red currant, dark cherry, cedar, vanilla, a little crème brulée; medium plus body, chunky tannin, tart berry, some heat, spicy, jalapeno; ripe though more classically styled.
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Very dark ruby color, 95% saturated with clear, slow legs. Major sediment. Profound cherry, cassis, cedar, and cocoa aromas. Deep and persistent palate with a luxurious texture. Very rich and smooth. Long finish. First time with this wine and I did not expect to like it as much as I did. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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Mom & dad were out for a visit & decided to try a mini-vertical of Justin Iscosceles since they're fans and members of the wine club. Tried the '06, '07 & '08 over 3 consecutive nights. The '06 and '07 (to us) clearly better than the '08 which seemed a bit too young yet, as well as a touch lighter and a bit more tart. A little more earth on the '06 with possibly some extra thickness to the '07.
I will echo my note from a few months ago: Color: Deep ruby -> medium ruby rim. Nice bouquet of cedar, cherries, chocolate and caramel. Excellent balance with a soft, velvety texture and some earthiness noted on this outing. Good stuffing and really a pleasant drinking experience. More approachable than I expected it to be given the relatively young age.
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Very elegant wine in my opinion. Very nice Bordeaux blend with very smooth structure and feel. Tannins are soft which is nice and enjoyable. Long finish with silkiness in the mouth. Decanted for about 30 minutes.
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89-90(?) Pts. Decanted for over an hour and served around 65 degrees.
On the nose, a melange of ripe red fruits, some oak influences and a bit of a maple smoked bacon element. On the palate, layers of very expressive red fruits. Very ripe red plums, black cherries and red currants nearly overwhelm and finish with some caramelized, toasted oak notes. Powerful, concentrated and carries a lot of heft on the palate.
Very supple texturally and feels like it might nearly fall apart, but there's just enough acid to get it by. If served any warmer it might come across as overly alcoholic and a bit messy. Overall, simple and uncomplicated. Tasty but a bit too candied and honestly, a bit boring. A pretty indulgent wine that has a deliciousness factor but my palate checked out after a few sips. Perhaps the most clear, obvious maple bacon notes on the nose which provided a good frame of reference as a palate note but not exactly something I would be chasing after.
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Color: Deep ruby -> medium ruby rim. Nice bouquet of cedar, cherries, chocolate and caramel. Excellent balance with a soft, velvety texture. Good stuffing and really a pleasant drinking experience. More approachable than I expected it to be given the relatively young age.
Subtle tannins and a lot of fruit. Some earthiness on the initial taste. Just open and poured. Let some sit for a couple of hours and it held up nicely.
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Dark crimson/purple color with a fabulous nose of caramel, roasted vanilla, anise, plum and roasted cherry flavors. All that aroma build-up follows through with a medium-to-full bodied palate, which is well-structured that gives of flavors of black cherry, mocha, and cedar flavors. This is followed by soft, velvety, floral syrupy nuances. A very balanced, delicious and multi-faceted wine that offers tremendous value for money. Will not disappoint. Drink now until 2020.
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Justin never disappoints. So smooth and well-balanced. I thoink it just shines with food. Would have loved to be at the vertcal tasting with ddsolomon2000! Jay thinks 2007 even better but will be hard to wait to open another! Highly recommended.
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Tasted as part of a six year vertical 2001 to 2006 with a group of 12 for dinner. We sought the advice of the wine maker from Justin on the rotation for dinner. He suggested 2002 and 2003 for appetizers (sushi, chicken skewers, artichoke dip), 2004 for salad, the 2005 and 2006 for dinner (beef burgundy, green beans, brown rice medley), follow up with the 2001 for dessert with cheesecake and chocolate.
Here's how we ranked the wines. The clear winners and rankings were the 2006, 2002, 2004, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Each of the wines was opened for 3 1/2 hours prior to dinner.
The 2006 is an incredible wine. Buy it if you can find some. It is totally balanced, perfectly smooth and wonderful to drink. Absolutely the best bottle in our six year vertical. These are incredible wines, very consistent year to year. Justin should be proud of his accomplishments in these wines.
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Day one: red and black fruit forward, fresh and youthful. Day two: a little mor settled, still tasty. Day four (refrigerated between tastings, then a little above room temp): fading, and starting to maderize.
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Dark chocolate covered cherries. This was really very good. Some prune on the nose and palate (in a good way). Still has time left allthough it is drinking well right now.
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Big stewed fruit, medicinal and herb notes on the nose. On the palate it had vanilla, mint and stewed dark fruit. This one isn't for the Napa Cab lovers.
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Very plummy and tobacco-y, also some blackberries on the nose. Pretty mellow all around here, very smooth. Dark fruit flavors and smoke on the palate, some tobacco, maybe just a bit of sun-dried tomato. Hangs a while on the finish, holding similar flavors for 30 seconds, with a bit of heat as well. Pretty good, very balanced and tasty, just didn't see the excitement others had described.
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So sad this was my only bottle of 2006. This wine is prime and ready to drink now. Beautiful nose of cherries, black currant, and plums. Big velvety texture on the palate, lots of ripe rich fruit black cherries, currant, and plum. Nicely integrated oak, smooth tannins and a finish that goes on and on. I decanted this 3 hours prior to drinking and it was outstanding. Fortunately had a little left over and it's drinking even better on the second day. If you have one of these in your cellar drink enjoy it now.
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Drinking nicely right now. Pure rich red fruit, tannins are soft and smooth. Very full, velvety feel with lengthy finish. Drank with seafood and did not overwhelm in any way.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of black currant, cherry, licorice anise, cedar and oak. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and cherry with a medium/full body. Narrow texture with a long finish - Solid wine, well made. Nothing but pure, ripe black cherry, cassis and currants; some spice and cedar, and just the right traces of oak. The attack starts right away as the fruit rolls through the palate. Finishes long, full and round.
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Good color. Nose very cab-driven and typical of Paso: stewed plums, mint, alcohol. Plum, alcohol on the palate. Soft finish. Advertised as a Bordeaux Blend, but not nearly complex enough. For the price, would prefer a Napa cab.
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So sad this was my last one of this vintage...pop and pour great...nothing to dislike about this wine...big balanced fruit of black cherries and slight wood...really sad.
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Had this bottle because I had a rough day...what a wonderful way to cheer up. 15% alcohol? really? did not taste like it at all. Very smooth, not a fruit bomb (to me), not heated. Just a great drink. Maybe bad moods make wines taste better, I don't know, but this one worked. Still enjoying the bottle slowly, but a wonderful aroma, a hint of oak, a bit of spicy, mellow finish. I think I drank it too soon because this one can only get MUCH better. I think I'll get another bottle and hold it for a few years. This was not a Wednesday wine...score that.
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Drank from decanted bottle at families house. Full bodied, ripe, & rich. Black plums, black cherry, tar. Nice round mouthfeel though could use a touch more acidity. Medium length. Soft melted tannins. A dark and somber wine that delivers round ripe fruit without abundant sweetness. Monolithic. Not an ager but tasty now.
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I am not kidding with this rating and I am pretty conservative...as good a bottle of wine as I drink and for the money simply unbeatable. Huge fruit, well-balanced with a long, long finish. Love this wine.
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Best bottle of wine that I have had in some time. Structured, complex, concentrated, and simply a joy to drink. Had without food so wonder how this would do with some lamb or a tenderloin. Tannins are minimal at this point but has great acidity and concentration of fruit. Wish I had more to lay down for 5-8 years.
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Quite funky on the nose, with big, ripe fruit and a bit of brett. In the mouth, a little bit strange mixture of drying tannins, brett, and luscious fruit. One-dimensional right now. B
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This was an excellent wine that we had while out to dinner. Dark inky color and velvety, heavy feel in the mouth. As expected, great dark fruit on the nose with notes of leather, tobacco, and coffee. Nice long finish. I drank this over two nights and the tannins really softened with 24 hours to breathe. Excellent balance with very nice oak.
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Taste at Elysian. Plums, cassis, creamy cobbler, chocolate, vanilla. Classy well defined aromas. Sleek pristine palate of stewed strawberries and cream and dark raspberry. Balanced creamy finish. Really excellent bottling. Consistency is key.
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Unlike some postings I thought it was too young. The pieces were there but they had not come together yet. Cosequently I got alcohol and an attack of fruit a bit sour and in need of ripening. The tannins also need to resolve. No rating for now - expect better in 2 or 3 years.
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Had from a half bottle. Very pleasant nose, good color, lots of fruit and quite soft for such a young wine. Lovely balance, good depth, long finish. Believe this will continue to improve, but quite drinkable now. Not sure if the price is justified, but this is very good wine indeed.
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Decanted only 15 minutes, you could pour this right from the bottle and enjoy this as it opens up in the glass over the evening. Full bodied but not overpowering, a truly wonderful balance of fruit (dark cherry, rasberry, plums), oak and mild/moderate tannins.
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Decanted for 1/2 hour. The nose was bright red and sweet. Cherry pie but with a firm feel. Great, great fruit but balance, soft soft tannins. Had the pleasure of sharing a decent sized taste with the watiress who was wine-savvy (and a great server). Drank with a ribeye that was a bit fatty for the wine but my wife's medium rare strip steak was simply perfect.
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Starting wine for the night. No time to decant, drank great from the start. Cherry, Berry, a hint of leather. Good fruit, but not overpowering, this was a great opener.
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Pop and pour. Medium garnet color. Big alcohol, dark fruit, vanilla and oak on the nose with notes of leather. cassis, dark chocolate, cocoa. Bold but not pretentious legs for the alcohol content, floral notes. Full bodied on tongue with smooth integrated tannins with good structure, vanilla cremeon the mid palate and a lingering spicy finish. Very well balanced wine. Allot going on here.
Day two: Even better than yesterday. Much greater expression of fruit, vanilla and oak, very balanced with just the right amount of tannins and acidity.
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From Memory: Color - Dark red, almost bordering on completely opaque. Nose was rich with typical Paso Robles density, lots of super-ripe red fruits, brown sugar, molassess, vanilla. Palate included raspberry, blackberry, ripe cherry, currant, raisin, and ripe tart plum.
On day one this wine was fabulous right from the bottle. Decanting it revealed another side of its personality, where more of the ripe fruit emerged from within the chocolate-raisin-plum notes that dominate a lot of the Justin style wines.
After 24 hours in the bottle, the remaining glasses of this wine were fabulous! More ripe fruit, a full spectrum of chocolate - white, milk, and dark. Red smoky raspberries abounded along with strawberry, blackberry, raisin, and secondary flavors like tobacco, fig, and spicebox.
I have always enjoyed the Justin Isosceles, and the '06 does not disappoint. It is drinking quite well right now, will probably hit a peak stride somewhere in the next 1-2 years, and should hold on strong for at least 10 years. The only challenge is keeping any of this utterly delicious wine in the cellar and out of the glass.
Drinks great all by itself, or with all the food you like, anywhere, or with anyone. One of my go-to wines for converting non-wine drinkers into wine-obsessed cellartracker users.
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Silver Oak Vertical by Traci (Traci's House): Dark raspberry color with plum/fruit and a touch of heat on the nose. This is a big, oaky, smokey palate with a tad of plum taste. I'm not a big plum fan. The finish is very long, an A- for that effort.
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Nice sexy, heady, flamboyant styled nose. Some old world terroir driven components, but wholely new world in style. Cassis, bright cherries and charred wood. Very nicely integrated bottling. Solid from this classic producer.
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Another great vintage for Isoceles, although I don't think it's quite what 2005 or 2007 is. A lighter color than the other vintages with a lot of red berries and maybe some coriander. A good bottle.
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Dark luscious black cherry chocolate leathery cinnamon smoke. I was worried as this store-bought bottle had weathered less-than-ideal storage conditions in the year I owned...and god only knows how it had been treated previously...but it leaped from garnet-red cork and slithered into our decanter where it waited impatiently for a little over an hour. Thick and leggy, but gentle with a lingering sweetness. Paired reasonably well with spaghetti & meatballs, but would have preferred to take on rosemary roast lamb...or just a lazy Wednesday evening. Definitely drinking very well today, but I'll probably wait a year before opening the next one...and may hold on to the rest until toward the end of the decade.
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Drank with friends, sorry the bottle was so small or too many friends. Great wine, very nice, smooth, moderate tannin and acidity. SMOOTH finish, no weakness on the back. Drink now, but this wine will probably benefit with another year or two.
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I was very impressed. I've had an 06 Isosceles a few months back and it seems to have already changed character a bit. The nose was full of red berries. A wonderful rich flavor with some blackberry and spice. A great smooth finish. This is a solid wine.
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Had a bottle at Blackstone Steakhouse (brutal meat here at this place btw, do NOT go)... delicious as always. Also drank another bottle of the 2006 a week or two ago... i'll get around to a more in depth review on the next bottle. BL for me, the isosceles never disappoints and has all of the structure and tastiness of a proper cab dominated bordeaux with big california fruit. The cab franc always "gets me". If i had the money this would most likely be the go to... enough fruit, great structure, nice finish, but not too big and jammy... just right. Alright, my next Isosceles review will be more substantive... i was too busy enjoying drinking it to write it up people!! 93
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This was a hit with family on christmas night. Nice nose, cherry and plum with a spice that I couldn't pin point. We decanted for about l20 minutes. Nice finish.
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"Reserve" wines (Toulouse Restaurant, Atlanta): Cassis, pencil lead, spice box. Gorgeous on the nose and follows through with sterling definition and intensity. Nervy, vibrant, masterful.
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86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Garnet color. Blackberry nose. Tastes of black cherry, blueberry and currant. French oak dominates the mid palate. Firm tannins. Rich mocha finish.
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Lots of room to grow here as this is still very much a baby. Big fruit on the nose along with toasted oak and a nice lilac perfume. Decanted for 3 hours and still not enough as it’s a very big bold wine on the palate with big time richness that coats the tongue and firm tannins that go on for days right now. Notes of raspberry, more floral action, carmel and mocha step to the forefront. This will most certainly mellow out over a number of years.
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10/10/2022 - dofzin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has certainly improved since last tasting 30 months ago. All the fruit (and the hint of pepper and earthy minerals) still there, and it has (thankfully) lost the odd seawater nose.
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5/30/2022 - Davidalan Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank with asparagus and charcoal grilled filet. Definitely mellowed over time but still taste berries and maybe leather. Held up good .
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12/16/2021 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was when Justin made a great bottle of wine. Drinking excellent now. Wish I had more.
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8/8/2021 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decant for one hour. Great balance of fruit and acid, strong finish. One left in the cellar and will hold it for another two years, but the 06 is drinking excellent now.
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4/19/2020 - dofzin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of fruit, pepper, and an odd mild hint of shellfish (or seawater?). Fruit forward, but not jammy. Not over oaked. Well balanced overall. Absolutely drinkable, and perhaps at its peak, and certainly will survive a bit longer (1 or 2 years?) in a good cellar.
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3/4/2020 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 90 Points
As always. Nice and smooth.
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9/23/2019 - B&PBaker Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good in all aspects.
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3/8/2019 - prism wrote: 88 Points
My last of four bottles, and I waited too long on this one. The Isosceles character is there—rich and juicy in the Paso Robles manner—but the wine is carrying an oxidative note that tells me it is high time—if not past time—to drink up. My cellar is closer to 60 than 55, but this has been stored in the quite dark since release, so: you who are still holding, hesitate no longer!
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1/28/2019 - Nerdy Earth Boy Likes this wine: 93 Points
A HUGE winner with the crowd from SoCal! I gave it a few hours to decant based on all the previous notes. It worked. Flavors of cinnamon and black current. Slightly floral and juicy, but improved in the glass with time. Anyone with a positive vibe for Justin will like this vintage and well-produced blend.
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12/21/2018 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle, while still good, had passed its peak drinking window. This still had plenty of fruit left but the clove and pepper notes had diminished. Also, fruit dominated this. Tannins were absent.
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11/21/2018 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork pulled and allowed to slo-ox.
Initial taste upon opening: some red and dark red fruits, but strong acidity and some drying tannins dominate.
After 1 hour: the fruits begin to flesh out; the acidity is still strong, but the tannins start to integrate.
after 4 hours: this is the wine everyone wants -- lots of dark red fruits (esp. dark cherry), a touch of cedar, completely integrated tannins, balanced acidity, all in a silky smooth, medium to plus bodied, medium to plus finish, not jammy, not hot, beautiful wine. Have one more bottle which should hold for at least a couple of years, but it will be hard to stay away.
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11/20/2018 - brasstab wrote: 94 Points
Still incredibly structured and intense after all these years. Dark fruit and cocoa wrapped in graphite and sprinkled with dust. Perfectly Paso.
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6/23/2018 - TroyInDFW Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 8 hours but set aside a glass to test every 2 hours. It’s amazing how this wine blossomed over 8 hours. It poured with a dark terra cotta color and turned a beautiful deep purple over the decanting period. The fragrance, taste and finish was amazing. It had a smoky, dark berry flavor, light tannins and the slightest acidity on finish. It is among the most well balanced wines I’ve ever tasted. This 12 year old wine was an outstanding bottle shared among great friends.
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5/11/2018 - Whine-oh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped n slow Oed for 1-2 hours. Min sed n bricking. Nice redfruits on nose. Some spice n earth to boot. Soft resolved tannins. In a good place. Drank next to a old world wine, d05 Kirwan. New world won tonight..
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2/13/2018 - Jcalvin3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Deep dark red color with berries and plums. Delicious with filet mignon sliders on pretzel buns with watercress. Full bodied and smooth; medium-plus finish. Not jammy as one might expect from from this Paso Robles producer.
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12/31/2017 - tbone wrote:
As others have stated, this wine is drinking well now. Decanted and dug in, full bodied but in a restrained, mature way. Smooth and delicious. Drank with fried oysters and crab cakes and worked very well. Bought and cellared on release.
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12/16/2017 - prism wrote: 92 Points
Slow O’d for for an hour. This is drinking beautifullly now, with nicely delineated fruit and well-integrated, powdery tannins. There is a strong element of cedar, which I find very appealing in a red Bordeaux blend. Very easy drinking, and at the peak of its consumption window.
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11/22/2017 - SLDESQ wrote: 92 Points
Great California red. Big, juicy well balanced.
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11/1/2017 - pedlund wrote: 88 Points
Black cherry, bramble fruit, some prune, menthe on the nose. Not much acidity-bordering on flabbly; flavors of aromas come thru strong on the palate as well as chocolate/mocha. Not a long finish, but flavors are still there. Medium tannin and moderately heavy weight. I have one more bottle and will drink it very soon as this wine has peaked.
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8/26/2017 - Bottledrainer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite a bit of sediment. Decanted and let it open up. Still holding up but it is definately time to drink. Fruit is starting to fade. Still quite good.
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5/19/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Waited 7 years since I had the last bottle. Bummer, this wine is aging very poorly. Structure is washed out and fruit flavor is dominated by a distracting prune note.
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2/25/2017 - JDR58 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank over two days. Fantastic out of bottle yet even greater the second day.
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2/18/2017 - pbenton wrote:
Enjoyed for a late Valentines celebration after a Codorniu Cava from Spain. The "06 was flat and the fruit flavors were subdued, not holding up well. Two 750 bottles left, should drink soon. Expect more from the '07.
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12/17/2016 - Beancounter55 Likes this wine: 90 Points
last of my 2006, still huge fruit especially berries. a bit of spice that is lost with the alcohol. tannins are moderate, finish less intense than other years. excellent wine overall.
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9/11/2016 - arnold2015 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Earth fruit and rather angular tannins, agree with others that I should have drank this earlier by 2 year when my tastes still sought this style. Large jammy fruit with a medium finish, not too complex.
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5/17/2016 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big fruit forward and bold. Medium garnet color. Opens to reveal loads of sweet blackberry and raspberry. Almost jam like on the palate. The sweetness is somewhat offset by the pepper and spice notes typical with Isosceles.
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3/24/2016 - Bandreas wrote:
Dark carmine red, lightening up just a tad at the rim.
At first quite seductive nose: red and black fruit.
On the palate sweet fruit that becomes sweeter and jammier as the wine warms and opens up.
Quite a bit of tannin: On the dusty and astringent side. Gives the wine some heft.
The wine is well made but it is an alcoholic bomb; at the end it reminds me of the wines from the Sierra Foothills.
I should have drunk it 4 years ago when my taste had not changed so much yet.
Will probably easily last another 5-8 years.
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2/7/2016 - vinovin wrote: 89 Points
Day 1- tight
Day2- smooth, huge tannins, plump fruit, gooseberry. Will age another 10 yrs.
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7/22/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Improved over last bottle from several months ago. Even more integrated, drinking great but still a few years left in it.
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5/30/2015 - vinovin wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Joanie's - after signing. Great blend, mellow tannins, and lengthy fruit- hint of pencil lead
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5/2/2015 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Compared to the '07 that preceded it, this had more weight, was a little less sweet, and had a faintly bitter note that added interest.
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4/13/2015 - brandywine Likes this wine: 90 Points
We gathered some lucky friends to celebrate hubby’s birthday and poured a vertical of 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006. The 2009 and 2006 were the overwhelming favorites. The 2009 is drinking beautifully now (my husband’s favorite of the group) but has enough structure to age for a while. The 2009 had a significantly higher percentage of cabernet sauvignon compared to the other vintages. The 2006 is a lovely balance of soft tannins and blue fruit. This was my personal favorite. The 2008 is still a nice wine but seemed somewhat off balance and tight compared to the other vintages (even the younger 2009). Maybe it’s the addition of Petite Verdot, but it definitely stuck out as the least favorite. Some time in the decanter did help it open up, so I will hold on to what I have for a few more years to see what happens.
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2/8/2015 - jslavitz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very good!
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1/8/2015 - lzelman Likes this wine: 93 Points
So very good. Went great with Italian food.
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9/29/2014 - gigmoney Likes this wine:
Drinking beautifully right now. PnP
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6/7/2014 - sesalmon Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice earthy wine with loads of berries and a nice smooth finish. I was surprised how much sediment there was though.
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4/27/2014 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for two hours. Strong nose of berries and floral. Very smooth on the palate. Opened up nicely over a few hours. Still plenty of life left in it.
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2/22/2014 - kdwoodrow@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich, complex, earthy berry fruit with distinctive flavor of chalk characteristic of many Paso Robles wines.
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1/12/2014 - Jwd12 wrote: 91 Points
A very good wine lots of berry and well balanced smooth long finish
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12/9/2013 - Bob the Hiker wrote: 93 Points
Another fantastic Isosceles
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11/15/2013 - Rezy13 wrote:
Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $40+ (Bin 75): Dark core with garnet rim; red currant, dark cherry, cedar, vanilla, a little crème brulée; medium plus body, chunky tannin, tart berry, some heat, spicy, jalapeno; ripe though more classically styled.
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11/8/2013 - Bottledrainer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep color, still a fair amount of fruit on the nose and on the palate, plenty of structure. A bit of sediment.
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10/27/2013 - Justinwine wrote: 91 Points
Good drinking
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10/26/2013 - fingers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dark ruby color, 95% saturated with clear, slow legs. Major sediment. Profound cherry, cassis, cedar, and cocoa aromas. Deep and persistent palate with a luxurious texture. Very rich and smooth. Long finish. First time with this wine and I did not expect to like it as much as I did. 5+12+17+8 = 92
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10/9/2013 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Mom & dad were out for a visit & decided to try a mini-vertical of Justin Iscosceles since they're fans and members of the wine club. Tried the '06, '07 & '08 over 3 consecutive nights. The '06 and '07 (to us) clearly better than the '08 which seemed a bit too young yet, as well as a touch lighter and a bit more tart. A little more earth on the '06 with possibly some extra thickness to the '07.
I will echo my note from a few months ago: Color: Deep ruby -> medium ruby rim. Nice bouquet of cedar, cherries, chocolate and caramel. Excellent balance with a soft, velvety texture and some earthiness noted on this outing. Good stuffing and really a pleasant drinking experience. More approachable than I expected it to be given the relatively young age.
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8/3/2013 - gfm10 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very elegant wine in my opinion. Very nice Bordeaux blend with very smooth structure and feel. Tannins are soft which is nice and enjoyable. Long finish with silkiness in the mouth.
Decanted for about 30 minutes.
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7/24/2013 - Oakwine wrote:
- Brick color. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish.
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7/3/2013 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
We went through three bottles during a leisurely dinner of ribs at my brother-in-laws. All of the adults present enjoyed the wine.
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6/17/2013 - TSBWine wrote: 90 Points
89-90(?) Pts. Decanted for over an hour and served around 65 degrees.
On the nose, a melange of ripe red fruits, some oak influences and a bit of a maple smoked bacon element. On the palate, layers of very expressive red fruits. Very ripe red plums, black cherries and red currants nearly overwhelm and finish with some caramelized, toasted oak notes. Powerful, concentrated and carries a lot of heft on the palate.
Very supple texturally and feels like it might nearly fall apart, but there's just enough acid to get it by. If served any warmer it might come across as overly alcoholic and a bit messy. Overall, simple and uncomplicated. Tasty but a bit too candied and honestly, a bit boring. A pretty indulgent wine that has a deliciousness factor but my palate checked out after a few sips. Perhaps the most clear, obvious maple bacon notes on the nose which provided a good frame of reference as a palate note but not exactly something I would be chasing after.
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6/6/2013 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Color: Deep ruby -> medium ruby rim. Nice bouquet of cedar, cherries, chocolate and caramel. Excellent balance with a soft, velvety texture. Good stuffing and really a pleasant drinking experience. More approachable than I expected it to be given the relatively young age.
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6/4/2013 - Dbader wrote: 90 Points
Subtle tannins and a lot of fruit. Some earthiness on the initial taste. Just open and poured. Let some sit for a couple of hours and it held up nicely.
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3/28/2013 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 93 Points
Dark crimson/purple color with a fabulous nose of caramel, roasted vanilla, anise, plum and roasted cherry flavors. All that aroma build-up follows through with a medium-to-full bodied palate, which is well-structured that gives of flavors of black cherry, mocha, and cedar flavors. This is followed by soft, velvety, floral syrupy nuances. A very balanced, delicious and multi-faceted wine that offers tremendous value for money. Will not disappoint. Drink now until 2020.
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3/9/2013 - gfm10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very tasty right out of the bottle. Held its own for a couple of hours after opening. Lots of fruit.
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2/15/2013 - jfpwine wrote: 92 Points
Explosion of fruit (blueberry, raspberry) on the nose and palate. Medium body, not too oaky. Medium finish. Decanted for 30 minutes.
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1/12/2013 - Tonythefish wrote: 91 Points
Good wine with smooth subtle tannins. Just opened and poured
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12/3/2012 - xuaeinw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good. I think the tannins have smoothed out. Not sure how it will develop from here.
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11/10/2012 - 3marinerfans wrote: 92 Points
Justin never disappoints. So smooth and well-balanced. I thoink it just shines with food. Would have loved to be at the vertcal tasting with ddsolomon2000! Jay thinks 2007 even better but will be hard to wait to open another! Highly recommended.
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11/4/2012 - cookiefiend wrote: flawed
Corked :-P
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10/17/2012 - ddsolomon2000 wrote: 95 Points
Tasted as part of a six year vertical 2001 to 2006 with a group of 12 for dinner. We sought the advice of the wine maker from Justin on the rotation for dinner. He suggested 2002 and 2003 for appetizers (sushi, chicken skewers, artichoke dip), 2004 for salad, the 2005 and 2006 for dinner (beef burgundy, green beans, brown rice medley), follow up with the 2001 for dessert with cheesecake and chocolate.
Here's how we ranked the wines. The clear winners and rankings were the 2006, 2002, 2004, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Each of the wines was opened for 3 1/2 hours prior to dinner.
The 2006 is an incredible wine. Buy it if you can find some. It is totally balanced, perfectly smooth and wonderful to drink. Absolutely the best bottle in our six year vertical.
These are incredible wines, very consistent year to year. Justin should be proud of his accomplishments in these wines.
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10/12/2012 - Gntloryntl wrote:
drank w/ Elisa, Kishla, Cameron
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9/17/2012 - mattdathan wrote: 93 Points
Lovely drinking now, with structure enough to last a few more years.
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8/23/2012 - prism wrote: 89 Points
Day one: red and black fruit forward, fresh and youthful. Day two: a little mor settled, still tasty. Day four (refrigerated between tastings, then a little above room temp): fading, and starting to maderize.
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5/12/2012 - EricBe wrote: 88 Points
I liked it fine, luann not so much.
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4/8/2012 - KurtK wrote: 92 Points
Dark chocolate covered cherries. This was really very good. Some prune on the nose and palate (in a good way). Still has time left allthough it is drinking well right now.
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2/18/2012 - ardria wrote: 94 Points
3rd bottle with B. This is just a fantastic bottle. chocolate covered cherries, a hint of pepper...got that Napa Cab over the top velvety goodness
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1/21/2012 - Katie&Mike wrote: 89 Points
Big stewed fruit, medicinal and herb notes on the nose. On the palate it had vanilla, mint and stewed dark fruit. This one isn't for the Napa Cab lovers.
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10/18/2011 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 85 Points
The fruit is barely there, but they are too oaky, hot, and astringent for me.
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10/8/2011 - BigDaveH wrote: 93 Points
Truly enjoyable. Very dense not too fruit forward. Leather and tobacco.
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9/28/2011 - bugdoced wrote: 91 Points
stood up well to a beef in wine and mushroom sauce
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9/7/2011 - gripNsip wrote: 90 Points
Very plummy and tobacco-y, also some blackberries on the nose. Pretty mellow all around here, very smooth. Dark fruit flavors and smoke on the palate, some tobacco, maybe just a bit of sun-dried tomato. Hangs a while on the finish, holding similar flavors for 30 seconds, with a bit of heat as well. Pretty good, very balanced and tasty, just didn't see the excitement others had described.
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9/6/2011 - ChadRS wrote: 95 Points
So sad this was my only bottle of 2006. This wine is prime and ready to drink now. Beautiful nose of cherries, black currant, and plums. Big velvety texture on the palate, lots of ripe rich fruit black cherries, currant, and plum. Nicely integrated oak, smooth tannins and a finish that goes on and on. I decanted this 3 hours prior to drinking and it was outstanding. Fortunately had a little left over and it's drinking even better on the second day. If you have one of these in your cellar drink enjoy it now.
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8/7/2011 - Grillgod wrote: 93 Points
Drinking nicely right now. Pure rich red fruit, tannins are soft and smooth. Very full, velvety feel with lengthy finish. Drank with seafood and did not overwhelm in any way.
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7/30/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of black currant, cherry, licorice anise, cedar and oak. It's balanced and has flavours of black currant and cherry with a medium/full body. Narrow texture with a long finish - Solid wine, well made. Nothing but pure, ripe black cherry, cassis and currants; some spice and cedar, and just the right traces of oak. The attack starts right away as the fruit rolls through the palate. Finishes long, full and round.
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7/29/2011 - xuaeinw wrote: 91 Points
Within its drinking window. Should be good for several years.
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6/29/2011 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 85 Points
Good color. Nose very cab-driven and typical of Paso: stewed plums, mint, alcohol. Plum, alcohol on the palate. Soft finish. Advertised as a Bordeaux Blend, but not nearly complex enough. For the price, would prefer a Napa cab.
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6/9/2011 - Juchawine wrote: 91 Points
Great with steak. Not over fruity. Pop it now.
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5/29/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
So sad this was my last one of this vintage...pop and pour great...nothing to dislike about this wine...big balanced fruit of black cherries and slight wood...really sad.
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5/18/2011 - CasaHernandez wrote:
Had this bottle because I had a rough day...what a wonderful way to cheer up. 15% alcohol? really? did not taste like it at all. Very smooth, not a fruit bomb (to me), not heated. Just a great drink. Maybe bad moods make wines taste better, I don't know, but this one worked. Still enjoying the bottle slowly, but a wonderful aroma, a hint of oak, a bit of spicy, mellow finish. I think I drank it too soon because this one can only get MUCH better. I think I'll get another bottle and hold it for a few years. This was not a Wednesday wine...score that.
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5/10/2011 - Soche wrote: 93 Points
This is a really great wine. Very smooth and paired perfectly with grilled steak with blue cheese butter. Lacks complexity for aging so drink now.
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5/7/2011 - GibsonHyde wrote: 93 Points
Beautifully smooth velvety oak and berry lingering notes. Very accomplished and well aged.
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4/22/2011 - pbenton Does not like this wine:
T. took to Ireland with the girls. H. didn't like it, was disappointed, said she didn't like the last few bottles of Iso.
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4/16/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic.
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2/20/2011 - Redguy wrote: 89 Points
Drank from decanted bottle at families house. Full bodied, ripe, & rich. Black plums, black cherry, tar. Nice round mouthfeel though could use a touch more acidity. Medium length. Soft melted tannins. A dark and somber wine that delivers round ripe fruit without abundant sweetness. Monolithic. Not an ager but tasty now.
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2/19/2011 - schnittle wrote: 93 Points
Not much new to add from previous comments. However, this was my first time trying. Truly impressed.
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2/14/2011 - xuaeinw wrote: 93 Points
Even better than the last bottle. Highly praised by others at dinner. Opened an hour before.
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1/28/2011 - Capt M wrote: 87 Points
Solid wine, but didn't impress me too much.
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1/23/2011 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 97 Points
I am not kidding with this rating and I am pretty conservative...as good a bottle of wine as I drink and for the money simply unbeatable. Huge fruit, well-balanced with a long, long finish. Love this wine.
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1/21/2011 - xuaeinw wrote: 90 Points
Ready to drink now. Should be good for next 3 years.
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12/25/2010 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
Very ripe with a hint of Paso Robles "tar", it's nicely complex and long. Lots (and lots) of time.
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12/5/2010 - meatbomb013 wrote: 95 Points
Best bottle of wine that I have had in some time. Structured, complex, concentrated, and simply a joy to drink. Had without food so wonder how this would do with some lamb or a tenderloin. Tannins are minimal at this point but has great acidity and concentration of fruit. Wish I had more to lay down for 5-8 years.
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12/1/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
Quite funky on the nose, with big, ripe fruit and a bit of brett. In the mouth, a little bit strange mixture of drying tannins, brett, and luscious fruit. One-dimensional right now. B
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11/25/2010 - brigcampbell wrote:
Thanksgiving 2010 (Brenda and Don's): Same as previous notes. I'm burying the last bottle in the back of the cellar and put 5+ years on it for fun.
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10/30/2010 - bordeaux4wino Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was an excellent wine that we had while out to dinner. Dark inky color and velvety, heavy feel in the mouth. As expected, great dark fruit on the nose with notes of leather, tobacco, and coffee. Nice long finish. I drank this over two nights and the tannins really softened with 24 hours to breathe. Excellent balance with very nice oak.
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10/3/2010 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic...deep dark berry flavor, fruit explodes but does not overwhelm. What a finish too.
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9/28/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Taste at Elysian.
Plums, cassis, creamy cobbler, chocolate, vanilla. Classy well defined aromas.
Sleek pristine palate of stewed strawberries and cream and dark raspberry.
Balanced creamy finish. Really excellent bottling. Consistency is key.
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9/17/2010 - difran wrote: 90 Points
Decant for an hour.
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7/14/2010 - budwin wrote:
Unlike some postings I thought it was too young. The pieces were there but they had not come together yet. Cosequently I got alcohol and an attack of fruit a bit sour and in need of ripening. The tannins also need to resolve. No rating for now - expect better in 2 or 3 years.
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7/12/2010 - daver852 wrote: 91 Points
Had from a half bottle. Very pleasant nose, good color, lots of fruit and quite soft for such a young wine. Lovely balance, good depth, long finish. Believe this will continue to improve, but quite drinkable now. Not sure if the price is justified, but this is very good wine indeed.
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6/20/2010 - StainedGlass Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted only 15 minutes, you could pour this right from the bottle and enjoy this as it opens up in the glass over the evening. Full bodied but not overpowering, a truly wonderful balance of fruit (dark cherry, rasberry, plums), oak and mild/moderate tannins.
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6/19/2010 - Mig22 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hour. The nose was bright red and sweet. Cherry pie but with a firm feel. Great, great fruit but balance, soft soft tannins. Had the pleasure of sharing a decent sized taste with the watiress who was wine-savvy (and a great server). Drank with a ribeye that was a bit fatty for the wine but my wife's medium rare strip steak was simply perfect.
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6/12/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 89 Points
Humm... I've scored this vintage 91pts before. Couldn't bring myself to score any higher and, in fact, debated going lower.
It lacked the brightness and elegance needed for a better score. Plus there is more of a prune taste with this bottle which causes me problems.
I have one more bottle so I'll let sleep for a number of years.
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4/6/2010 - Polliard wrote:
Only have one
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4/4/2010 - WineKV wrote: 92 Points
Starting wine for the night. No time to decant, drank great from the start. Cherry, Berry, a hint of leather. Good fruit, but not overpowering, this was a great opener.
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3/27/2010 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Medium garnet color. Big alcohol, dark fruit, vanilla and oak on the nose with notes of leather. cassis, dark chocolate, cocoa. Bold but not pretentious legs for the alcohol content, floral notes. Full bodied on tongue with smooth integrated tannins with good structure, vanilla cremeon the mid palate and a lingering spicy finish. Very well balanced wine. Allot going on here.
Day two: Even better than yesterday. Much greater expression of fruit, vanilla and oak, very balanced with just the right amount of tannins and acidity.
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3/22/2010 - skinowdrinklater Likes this wine: 94 Points
From Memory:
Color - Dark red, almost bordering on completely opaque. Nose was rich with typical Paso Robles density, lots of super-ripe red fruits, brown sugar, molassess, vanilla. Palate included raspberry, blackberry, ripe cherry, currant, raisin, and ripe tart plum.
On day one this wine was fabulous right from the bottle. Decanting it revealed another side of its personality, where more of the ripe fruit emerged from within the chocolate-raisin-plum notes that dominate a lot of the Justin style wines.
After 24 hours in the bottle, the remaining glasses of this wine were fabulous! More ripe fruit, a full spectrum of chocolate - white, milk, and dark. Red smoky raspberries abounded along with strawberry, blackberry, raisin, and secondary flavors like tobacco, fig, and spicebox.
I have always enjoyed the Justin Isosceles, and the '06 does not disappoint. It is drinking quite well right now, will probably hit a peak stride somewhere in the next 1-2 years, and should hold on strong for at least 10 years. The only challenge is keeping any of this utterly delicious wine in the cellar and out of the glass.
Drinks great all by itself, or with all the food you like, anywhere, or with anyone. One of my go-to wines for converting non-wine drinkers into wine-obsessed cellartracker users.
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3/7/2010 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
Had this over two days, rich, plush and oh so California.
Color: Deep red with velvety red edges
Nose: Creme de cassis, cherries, caramel
Palate: Currants, raspberry, mocha mix with generous oak
Tasty wine and one for when I was in the mood for a big, lush, California wine.
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3/7/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 91 Points
Silver Oak Vertical by Traci (Traci's House): Dark raspberry color with plum/fruit and a touch of heat on the nose. This is a big, oaky, smokey palate with a tad of plum taste. I'm not a big plum fan. The finish is very long, an A- for that effort.
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2/19/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Nice sexy, heady, flamboyant styled nose.
Some old world terroir driven components, but wholely new world in style.
Cassis, bright cherries and charred wood.
Very nicely integrated bottling. Solid from this classic producer.
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2/14/2010 - cbauer135 wrote: 90 Points
Another great vintage for Isoceles, although I don't think it's quite what 2005 or 2007 is. A lighter color than the other vintages with a lot of red berries and maybe some coriander. A good bottle.
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2/11/2010 - sarlyb wrote: 93 Points
Dark luscious black cherry chocolate leathery cinnamon smoke. I was worried as this store-bought bottle had weathered less-than-ideal storage conditions in the year I owned...and god only knows how it had been treated previously...but it leaped from garnet-red cork and slithered into our decanter where it waited impatiently for a little over an hour. Thick and leggy, but gentle with a lingering sweetness. Paired reasonably well with spaghetti & meatballs, but would have preferred to take on rosemary roast lamb...or just a lazy Wednesday evening.
Definitely drinking very well today, but I'll probably wait a year before opening the next one...and may hold on to the rest until toward the end of the decade.
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1/12/2010 - LenV wrote: 91 Points
Drank with friends, sorry the bottle was so small or too many friends. Great wine, very nice, smooth, moderate tannin and acidity. SMOOTH finish, no weakness on the back. Drink now, but this wine will probably benefit with another year or two.
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1/8/2010 - cbauer135 wrote: 92 Points
I was very impressed. I've had an 06 Isosceles a few months back and it seems to have already changed character a bit. The nose was full of red berries. A wonderful rich flavor with some blackberry and spice. A great smooth finish. This is a solid wine.
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1/8/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote: 93 Points
Had a bottle at Blackstone Steakhouse (brutal meat here at this place btw, do NOT go)... delicious as always. Also drank another bottle of the 2006 a week or two ago... i'll get around to a more in depth review on the next bottle. BL for me, the isosceles never disappoints and has all of the structure and tastiness of a proper cab dominated bordeaux with big california fruit. The cab franc always "gets me". If i had the money this would most likely be the go to... enough fruit, great structure, nice finish, but not too big and jammy... just right. Alright, my next Isosceles review will be more substantive... i was too busy enjoying drinking it to write it up people!! 93
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12/29/2009 - zeenichka wrote:
This was a hit with family on christmas night. Nice nose, cherry and plum with a spice that I couldn't pin point. We decanted for about l20 minutes. Nice finish.
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12/28/2009 - dcdoug2 wrote: 92 Points
More aging would certainly be a good thing. Was still a hit at Xmas dinner with some decanting.
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12/23/2009 - Jibeck wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine
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11/13/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 86 Points
i was surprised that this came off so one dimensional and angular. where, oh where, is a wine like the 97?
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11/11/2009 - hello555 wrote: 87 Points
Very good
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11/8/2009 - MindMuse wrote: 93 Points
"Reserve" wines (Toulouse Restaurant, Atlanta): Cassis, pencil lead, spice box. Gorgeous on the nose and follows through with sterling definition and intensity. Nervy, vibrant, masterful.
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10/24/2009 - JAT wrote: 93 Points
Distinctive black cherry flavor with smooth mouthfeel and a little heat, which is well integrated. An enjoyable wine.
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10/15/2009 - EricBe wrote: 90 Points
Luann says "yummy"
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10/7/2009 - peeks13 wrote: 92 Points
A Night of Classic Cabernet (9/23/2009) (Wine Discount Center Barrington): Wonderful taste, slightly better than the '05 Ramey Napa.
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10/3/2009 - mwolff wrote: 91 Points
Excellent cab. Wonderful bouquet. Ready to drink after 15 minutes. Paired very well with beef short ribs.
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8/18/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Big bold taste, definitely accented by the Cab Franc. Nice finish.
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8/11/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 92 Points
Very young and primary...but I believe this will be a strong vintage for this wine.
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8/1/2009 - djdaqm wrote: 91 Points
Cabernet Time - Silver Oak & Friends (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Impressive nose after it was decanted for several hours. Decent complexity. Firm concentration. Very well put together. Persistent. Excellent balance. Nice tannins
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7/25/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 89 Points
86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Garnet color. Blackberry nose. Tastes of black cherry, blueberry and currant. French oak dominates the mid palate. Firm tannins. Rich mocha finish.
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5/9/2009 - cabdrinker wrote: 89 Points
Lots of room to grow here as this is still very much a baby. Big fruit on the nose along with toasted oak and a nice lilac perfume. Decanted for 3 hours and still not enough as it’s a very big bold wine on the palate with big time richness that coats the tongue and firm tannins that go on for days right now. Notes of raspberry, more floral action, carmel and mocha step to the forefront. This will most certainly mellow out over a number of years.
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2/22/2009 - Wonder wrote: 90 Points
Very good, after it opened up. But I'd keep it down for a good year. Bottle we opened up had quite a bit of sediment too. But full flavored.
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