The 2023 JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon is a California red from Paso Robles, a region known for producing ripe, generously flavored Cabernet Sauvignon with substantial body and approachable tannins.
JUSTIN has built its reputation on Bordeaux-style wines. This selection is an accessible introduction to the winery’s style, emphasizing rich fruit, polished texture, and enough structure to make it a serious dinner wine.
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery was established in 1981 by Justin Baldwin, a former investment banker, and his wife Deborah. The couple purchased approximately 160 acres west of Paso Robles. H is vision was to make world-class Bordeaux-style blends.  Befitting such ambition, The winery is invested in the French idea of terroir, that a wine must reflect its place, especially soil and climate.
The winery gained national recognition with Isosoceles, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend inspired by the great wines of Bordeaux but produced with California’s generous sunshine and ripeness. Reflecting Isosceles’ prominence, much of JUSTIN’s branding, marketing, and naming play off the right-angle triangle theme.
JUSTIN’s soil is largely fossilized limestone from eons of marine deposit. The limestone stresses the vines, producing grapes that, ideally, completely express their varietal character.
Paso Robles’ distinctive microclimate offers the widest day to night temperature swings of any grape-growing region in California. The hot days allow the grapes to develop intense flavor, while the cool nights create structure and balance.
JUSTIN combines traditional Old World methods—like hand-harvesting and small-barrel aging in French oak—with New World technology.
JUSTIN’s offerings include Bordeaux-style blends, of course, and other red blends. They also produce limited amounts of Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier.
Billionaire Stewart Resnick bought JUSTIN Vineyards and Winery in late 2010. Resnick also controls Fiji Water, Pom Wonderful, and Teleflora. He also owns the Sonoma County wineries Landmark and Hop Kiln.
Justin Baldwin is still casually involved with the winery, but the winemaking falls to Napa Valley veteran Scott Shirley, who has maintained and even expanded JUSTIN’s quality and reputation. JUSTIN was named the 2015 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon spent 15 months in traditional small American oak barrels, 25% of which were new. It pours an opaque purple-ruby in the glass, with aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry. These dark fruits abound on the full-bodied, dry palate, joined by cocoa, some vanilla, and a hint of dust. Mild acidity and snappy tannins provide structure, leading to a moderately long finish. A genuinely satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon, with generous fruit, good structure, and enough complexity to hold my interest. The ABV is 15.0%.
This is a versatile Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly well suited to substantial meat dishes. I would consider grilled ribeye, filet mignon with a red wine reduction, roast lamb with rosemary, or beef short ribs.
Serve at 60–65°F (16–18°C). Decant for 30 minutes, extending to an hour if the tannins seem tight to you.
Note: It is my position that although you will see vintage dates throughout Winervana, I don’t put too much importance on them. Most producers these days strive for a consistent style, and largely succeed. To test that, read my post about the 2009 JUSTIN Cabernet here, and the 2017 JUSTIN Cabernet here.