It was an ideal day for lunch and a wine tasting at Justin Vineyards & Vineyard. Situated on the japanese facet of Paso Robles within the mountains, Justin has a MICHELIN-starred restaurant, distinctive wine, cave excursions, bike excursions, and even on web site lodging. Even within the lifeless of January, the winery views had been beautiful.
Notice: the street to Justin winds across the mountains and I bought a bit carsick on the drive over. Plan accordingly for those who wrestle with winding roads and convey some Pepto or ginger ale! The drive is price it. Plan to go to a number of wineries within the space when you’re on the east facet.
Lunch
We had been advised by nearly everybody {that a} meal at Justin Vineyards & Vineyard is to not be missed and that couldn’t be extra true. Even for those who’re not notably hungry. Belief me on this! The chef despatched out the olive focaccia with chimichurri and wow had been we ever impressed. In reality, we ate some leftover and it’s simply as scrumptious because it was on the winery!
However the must-order merchandise right here is Justin Vineyard’s well-known burger, which you’ll be able to order proper there on the dog-friendly patio to get pleasure from together with your wine flight. We upgraded our fries to truffle fries, that are an absolute should. I’ll dream in regards to the gruyere sauce on the fries! Need to know precisely what’s on the burger? Justin Vineyards truly printed the recipe so you can also make it at residence!
For a spot with a Michelin star, it needs to be famous that the meals served on the patio (together with the patio) is all very moderately priced. The restaurant has a separate menu and has now earned a spot on my bucket listing!
Premium Flight
The premium flight ($80 per particular person, $40 for Wine Society Members) is an beautiful array of a few of Justin’s best wines. Presently the tasting contains the 2020 Savant, 2017 Justification, 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020 Isosceles, and 2019 Platinum Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. (The most cost effective wine on the listing is $55/bottle and the most costly is $175, by the way in which.) We had been additionally fortunate sufficient to strive the 2021 Viognier as a welcome wine, which I beloved a lot I promptly shipped to Texas.
It was truthfully one magical wine after the subsequent. The 2020 Savant is half cabernet, half Syrah and smells beautiful. It’s a dry, cozy wine that’s good for hearth pit sippin’. The 2017 Justification (cabernet franc) was superb with the burger and truffle fries.
The 2019 Platinum Reserve Cabernet smells surprisingly mild. Sarah had one sip and mentioned, “That’s what Jesus drank. You recognize? When he turned water into wine? It was this.” It’s a giant, daring cabernet sauvignon with a pointy end. When in California, proper?
However it was the 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that stole my coronary heart. This wine, which is 100% cabernet, sings like a Disney princess on the way in which down. It’s an extremely clean wine with notes of cherry and chocolate. Our server Carly advised us that it’s the employees’s favourite and it’s straightforward to see why! I shipped a bottle again to Texas to tackle some fabulous picnic this spring.
Carly was completely pleasant, strolling us by way of each wine with nice care and explaining how Paso Robles is changing into a mini Rhone Valley. Carly, for those who’re ever in Texas, you have to come over for dinner someday! Should you love a relaxed however guided wine tasting expertise, Justin Vineyards is the proper place for you.
Goodies
The pastry chef hand makes these beautiful hand-painted goodies in home. They’re virtually too fairly to eat! I extremely advocate choosing up a field once you’re there.
Justin is actually an distinctive winery expertise. I couldn’t advocate visiting sufficient!
Cheers,
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