Justin Vineyards & Winery

Justin Vineyards and Winery is a Paso Robles producer best known for its full-bodied, concentrated red wines made from the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

The estate is made up of four vineyards on limestone-rich soils dotted around the Paso Robles region. The first vines were planted in 1981, after Justin Baldwin purchased the 65-hectare (160-acre) plot that is now the Founder's Vineyard. Justin Vineyards has expanded since, adding sites with good sunlight exposure and cooling Pacific influences – terroir that is well-suited to the Bordeaux varieties.

The first Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines came from the 1986 vintage, released mostly to friends, and the first vintage of the Justin Reserve – a Bordeaux blend – was released the following year. This wine was renamed Isosceles and is today Justin Vineyards' flagship wine. Isosceles is a left bank-styled wine, usually made up of around 75 percent Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It sees around 21 months aging in new French oak barrels, and shows layers of black fruit and chocolate with spicy, savory aromas. It tends to drink well on release but can age well over many years.

Justin Vineyards' extensive portfolio of red wines also includes Justification, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, Savant, a Cabernet – Syrah blend, and Right Angle, a Bordeaux blend with Petite Sirah. There is also a range of varietal red and white wines from classic Californian varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier.