Justin Isosceles Red Blend 2018

Justin Isosceles Red Blend 2018 is a Bordeaux-style red blend from Paso Robles, California, bottled at 15% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 91 points from James Suckling, this vintage stands as one of the flagship wines from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, combining power and complexity in a distinctly Californian expression of a classic French template.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15%  |  Origin: Paso Robles, Central Coast, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

Production & Heritage

JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, located in the western hills of Paso Robles on California's Central Coast, has built its reputation on Bordeaux-inspired blends that harness the region's intense sun and dramatic diurnal temperature shifts. The 2018 Isosceles is composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, fermented in stainless steel tanks with twice-daily pump-overs to maximize extraction. What distinguishes this wine from many peers is its aging regimen — a full 21 months in 100% new French oak barrels, a commitment that layers substantial structure, cedar, and spice complexity into the final blend without relying on any proportion of used cooperage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intensely aromatic and multilayered. The nose opens with ripe black cherry and cassis, followed by waves of vanilla, cinnamon, and licorice spice, then deeper notes of sweet tobacco, cedar, leather, and a subtle camphor undertone.

Taste: Full-bodied on entry with concentrated black cherry and black currant fruit, backed immediately by baking spice and well-integrated oak. The midpalate broadens with sustained fruit and spice, joined by savory autumn leaf, cedar, and leather. Fine, mouth-filling tannins carry the wine through with textural authority.

Finish: Long, complex, and balanced, with attractive fruit and spice lingering alongside cedar and subtle camphor. The tannin structure resolves gracefully, leaving a lasting impression of richness without heaviness.

How to Drink Isosceles 2018

This wine rewards patient sipping — decant for 30 to 60 minutes before serving at cellar temperature (around 60–65°F) to allow the aromatics to fully open. While Isosceles is built for the table rather than the cocktail bar, its bold profile pairs exceptionally with food. A Cabernet-forward Sangria using Isosceles adds uncommon depth and spice. A red wine reduction sauce benefits from the wine's layered fruit and oak character. For a simpler approach, pour alongside a cheese board to let the tannins and fruit interact with rich, aged selections.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector who appreciates Bordeaux-style California blends
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with grilled or roasted red meats
• Cellaring for medium-term aging to explore how the tannins evolve over 3–7 years
• Hosting a comparative tasting of premium Paso Robles Cabernet-based wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Isosceles 2018 taste like? It delivers concentrated black cherry and cassis fruit layered with baking spice, cedar, leather, and sweet tobacco, all supported by fine, mouth-filling tannins and a long, balanced finish.

How does Isosceles 2018 compare to Opus One? Both are premium California Bordeaux-style blends, but Isosceles tends toward a riper, more fruit-forward profile with higher alcohol (15% ABV) and full new French oak aging, while Opus One from Napa Valley generally presents a more restrained, structured style at a significantly higher price point.

Is Isosceles 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a wine designed to be savored on its own or with food, and its 93-point Wine Enthusiast score reflects the kind of complexity that rewards attentive tasting after a proper decanting.

Where is Isosceles 2018 made? It is produced by JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery in the Paso Robles AVA on California's Central Coast, a region known for its warm days, cool nights, and calcareous soils well suited to Bordeaux varieties.

What foods pair well with Isosceles 2018? Grilled ribeye steak matches the wine's bold tannins and fruit intensity. Braised short ribs complement its savory leather and tobacco notes. Aged Gouda or Comté echo the oak-derived richness. Roasted lamb with herbs bridges the wine's spice and savory layers. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage mirrors the deep fruit and subtle camphor on the finish.

What sizes does Isosceles 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Isosceles 2018 worth the price? Isosceles positions as a premium Bordeaux-style blend that competes with wines priced well above its tier; the 21 months of 100% new French oak aging and consistent critical acclaim (93 points from Wine Enthusiast) make it a strong value among California's top-shelf red blends.

Why Isosceles 2018?

The defining move behind this wine is the decision to age entirely in new French oak for nearly two full years — a practice that demands high-quality fruit capable of standing up to that level of oak influence without being overwhelmed. The 2018 vintage delivered exactly that, producing a wine with the depth and tannic architecture to absorb and integrate the oak while retaining varietal clarity from its Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend. A 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast and 91 points from James Suckling confirm that the ambition behind Isosceles translates into the glass. For anyone drawn to concentrated, age-worthy California reds built in the Bordeaux mold, this vintage represents one of Paso Robles' most compelling arguments.