in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day seventy-eight (Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2008)

I really like the wines Justin puts out, especially their Cabernet Sauvignons. Each year is good. I’ve been drinking them for quite a number years. I enjoyed, and even wrote about the 2007 here: In Pursuit of the Juiciest Wine: Day Forty-Four. I especially loved their Isosceles, but I don’t think they make it anymore

Anyway, I like Justin Cabernet Sauvignon’s so much that when my nephew was 18, I knew exactly what I would get him for his 21st birthday – a bottle of Justin Cabernet Sauvignon. A fine present 21st birthday present I think. And it’s an awesome gift when your nephew’s name is Justin. He has been given his bottle. I don’t know if he opened yet. Nonetheless, I am opening my bottle tonight.

But before I do that, I’d like to mention that this wine is from the Paso Robles region in California, which is about mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco surrounding Route 101.

Click the map to see it larger scaled.

I’d love to drive that whole road one summer or fall. I’d love to try all the clam chowder along that road. I did that once from Seattle to the southern most part of Oregon. Oh man. Good soup on that ride. Good wines, too. Oh, I brought that up because I stumbled upon the Paso Robles website today. It’s here: Paso Robles. And here’s an interactive map of most, or all, of the wineries in Paso Robles: Paso Robles winery map. Paso Robles, by the way, means Pass of the Oaks. (Justin Vineyards is above the “Downtown Paso Robles” zoom-in box.)

To the wine. I dedicate this tasting to my Nephew. Man, I hope it’s good for his sake. Yikes.

You know what I think this tasting needs? A clarion call. I need to be called to drink this wine. I need a calling like Freddie Hubbard at the beginning of “Straight Life.” His clarion call called all the musicians to join him for a jam.

Yeah, here’s hoping this is liquid love.

(Man, you got to hear the song on the album Straight Life. It’s even better than here, especially the clarion call. It’s like – Guys, I’m here, and we’re going go some place you’ve never been before.)

Anyway, to liquid love. I’ve been called.

I’m a little concerned here. I can see through it. It’s not as opaque as I expect it to be. Actually, the sides are but not the middle. It’s some weird optical illusion – dark on the side, semi-transparent in the middle. To the nose.

The nose. Oh, the nose. The nose smells of the joys one can have on Route 101 and of the mushrooms one might find along Route 101. One might pick up on the nose, like my girlfriend correctly noted, some salmon cooked in an 18-year-old balsamic vinegar glaze. (The best 18-year-old balsamic vinegar comes from F. Olivers. Oh, man. I’m so hungry for that meal.) There’s some cherries and some spice or spices like chai tea.

Well, this isn’t as good as previous years. It’s thin for a Cab, and, well, there’s not much going on. Not much flavor and the finish is lame and uninteresting. Well, it’s lame and uninteresting because I expected so much. If I wasn’t expecting a cab, I might enjoy this more. But it is smooth. It’s smooth like Freddie Hubbard’s horn.

The more I drink this and try to think of what other wine it could be, the more I try to enjoy it, but I can’t. It’s not interesting to me. It’s meh.

It’s ok, but at $20, it’s not. There are better cabs, better wines for half the price.

I’m sorry nephew Justin. As for you Justin Vineyards, sigh. Until next year.//

in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day thirteen

Day thirteen of the tour and I’m reminded of Dr. Who. There are supposed to be thirteen regenerations of Dr. Who. As we know, however, the tenth doctor, David Tenant, had two regenerations. He once regenerated into himself. And like Dr. Who, the Juiciest Wine Tour also had a repeat with the Chateau de Paraza Minervois 2007. So maybe this is only day twelve. Maybe it won’t be unlucky. Maybe Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot Number 51 will be good. Let’s find out. Allons-y.

The back label says it is “predominantly comprised of Zinfandel.”

The wine looks young. It’s got a big clear meniscus where the surface of the wine meets the side of the glass. The color looks zinny.

It’s got a slightly spicy nose. It smells earthy. When I smell it, I think of the paleolithic painters who painted the bisons and ibexes  in a cave in Altamira. (By the way, the plural is “ibexes” or “ibices.”)

Oh, man. This is jammy. Lots of fruits and berries that I didn’t expect. I think I got some green apples, too. Definitely some cherries, and in the background some juicy plums. I envision those same paleolithic painters dancing with the shadows cast from a fire made from animal fat. I imagine some type of singing, as well. I imagine the fire, shadows, and singing animate the images of the bisons, ibexes, reindeer, boars, and horses. I imagine an underground party. I want to give them this wine. I want to party with them. I want to dance. I want my head bobbing up and down while I strut in a circular path inside the cave. I want my footprints in the dirt to last as long as the images on the walls. I want to play tunes on a flute made from a woolly mammoth’s tusk. I want Dr. Who’s TARDIS. . . .

This will go good with pasta and the summer squash, green peppers, mushrooms, and chick peas sautéed in Felix Oliver’s 18-year-old special reserve balsamic vinegar and a Tuscan Garden (oregano, rosemary, sage, and garlic) extra virgin olive oil. . . . And it was. Yum.//

in pursuit of the juiciest wine: day three

Happy May Day, everyone. This day always reminds me of one of my favorite poems – Allen Ginsberg’s “Kral Majales” (turn up the volume). For the best reading of “Kral Majales” listen to me read it or listen to the version on The Lion for Real. (That’s one of my most favorite albums.)

Back to the tour . . . .

Last night I wanted to get off to a good start with this tour, and I was too kind to the Red Guitar. I wanted it to be good, but it was eh. Some one of more expertise would have rated it an 85. I never drink anything below an 88. From now on, I’ll be more direct. I’ll cast aside hopes and just taste.

Today’s wine is the Lan Rioja Reserva 2004. It smells like a cab. It smells deep, dark, and dry. It has some leather. (My girlfriend picked up on that. She has the best nose of anyone I know. Plus, she’s just wonderful.) In the center of the odor is a juicy plum waiting to be bitten into and have it’s juice drool down the side of my chin. There’s a hint of smoke on the periphery, too.

Right away, I taste raspberries. It’s delicious and smooth, and it’s very dry. It’s so dry, especially when I swirl it around my gums. It’s dry on the finish, too.

It’s not very juicy. Where’d that plum go? Sigh. But damn, it’s good.

Is that cinnamon somewhere?

It’s definitely earthy, and it has some rosemary. It would probably go real good with lamb.

I do think it needs some more time to open up.

If I were to guess, I would think this is a cab. When I bought it, I assumed it was a Tempranillo. . . . I just did a Google search, and it is a Tempranillo, and it was #52 on the Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of the year. I don’t know for which year, though.

It would also go good with bread dipped in olive oil or olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Man, I have to get to F. Oliver’s.

I’m digging this wine. I hope it wasn’t expensive because I want to get it again. I like how it soaks in under the gums.

It definitely needs food to counter the tannins, so I’m off to eat and drink this lovely wine.//