Central Coast Uncorked: 2009 Justin Vineyards Isosceles

"The chief forms of beauty are order and symmetry and definiteness, which the mathematical sciences demonstrate in a special degree." ~ Aristotle

This wine was built upon the model of the great Bordeaux left-bank wines of Pauillac and Margaux and like a true isosceles triangle which has least two equal sides, this wine also has two "equal" sides. One is its great aging potential and two like much of the 2009 vintage from Bordeaux, this is a wonderfully structured wine, that given time in a decanter will wows folk in the here and now.

If you're willing to pay the $65 price of admission, wait a couple of years, the patient vino-sapien will be bountifully rewarded for the effort. The Central Coast

wine scene, an area chock full of many outstanding wineries and fascinating producers, both coming together to make some of the very best wines in the state of California. Many folks I talk to in my day to day interactions selling wine; are surprised to hear about the amazing Central Coast Wine Scene, they ask me, “oh so there’s far more than just the Napa Valley?”

It’s with a resounding, “yes” that I explain there are places like San Luis Obispo for example, where the cool climate and marine sediment combine to produce the most highly regarded, rich, buttery Chardonnay grapes in the state. And in the north, the long, hot summers and chalk and limestone hillsides of Paso Robles where Justin Vineyards and Winery is located yield amazing award-winning red wines, you’ll find amazing Rhone varietals, rich, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon without the Napa price tag or the attitude.

Justin Vineyard Isosceles 2009: Another Central Coast favorite; this wine was sent to me as a sample a few weeks back; it did not fail to deliver, impressive showing. The wine is quite young, having been bottled just last year in the early summer. If you drink now, decant at least 3 hours, I'd recommend holding for a year or more before approaching it again. A huge wine, which needs time to unwind and unfold in the glass, but once it does look out, you're in for a treat. Tight aromas of sweet blackberry tart, ripe blueberries are eager to say hello, while on the first slurp, a boat load of red and dark fruits, mocha, licorice and sweet but subtle smoky cedar note in the background, the finish is long and lasting. All this draped across obvious tannins, which are nicely ripe and soft. Again I’d hold it for now, my score is 90 points and has a SRP of $65.

Update: By the way, sports-fans I located [spotted] the 2008 Justin Isosceles selling at the Mission Valley Costco, here in San Diego, selling for just under a "Grant". A wine, averaging 91.3 points via 76 community wine reviews on Cellar Tracker, a $15 savings off the SRP. 

So if you're looking for a few special occasion wine, something that would be great to lay down for a few years or even a great wine to enjoy now, with the right amount of time in the decanter, I would recommend picking up a few of these wines, sooner rather than later. Until next time sip long and prosper cheers!