Wine Review: Justin Vineyards 2008 Syrah (and what wine(s) you can find in your own grocery store like it!)

 Baby girl gives Justin a "touchdown" review!

The hubbie and I have what we like to call our "only drink from this wine every 6 months" wine closet. It is actually a bedroom closet but we like to think its a fancy wine cellar. Hubbie was never allowed to touch or even look at it while I was pregnant.

Some days, I get an itch to take a peek and celebrate with some of our beloved wines every once in awhile. One of those nights happened this week. 

Justin Vineyards is located in Paso Robles, CA which happens to be my favorite wine region in the world. Paso produces tasty, full reds and some of the best Viognier's I have ever tasted. Paso typically grows its fruit in the French Rhone style. We drank the Justin Vineyards 2008 Syrah. Letting it sit in the bottle for almost 6 years is a pretty good life for this wine.

When we opened it, we put it in a decanter to let it breath for awhile. This is what a decanter looks like. You can get a simple one at your local Target for a good price.

When you decant your wine, you want to do it "violently" so as to allow as much oxygen to come into contact with it as you pour it into the vessel. The wine can then open up and breath for a bit before you taste it.

Review
Justin Vineyards 2008 Syrah
Bouquet: nice tones of cranberry, bing cherries, blackberry, earthiness (dirt), vanillaTaste: blackberry, pepper, blackcurrant
Full finish with the same dark fruity taste
Wine Momma Scale Number: It was almost a 2, but I think we may have opened it a bit too early, so its a 3. A great wine for any occasion. (See my wine review scale on the right side of the blog)

If you live in Coastal Alabama, you can find the Justin Isosceles (their most famous varietal) at Red or White in Fairhope or Mobile. You can also find a few varietals at Southern Napa in Daphne.

Want to try a Justin-like wine for under $10? Right now, I do not believe that is possible. With whites, yes. Reds? So much harder to bring out the flavors.

That said, can you find a decent red under $12?? YES!

Try the Bogle Petite Sirah, currently at $11.99 at Publix or your local grocery store. Hubbies, a great wine for dinner tonight with your ladies perhaps??

Cheers and Happy Valentine's Day!