Justin Justification

Description

Philosophy With JUSTIFICATION, the Old World meets the New in a blend of cabernet franc and merlot. This wine expresses the spirit of a few right bank Bordeaux producers who highlight cabernet franc with its complex expression of herbs, red fruit and elegant structure, but with a Paso Robles twist of full, bright fruit. A versatile pairing wine to a wide range of foods, JUSTIFICATION is perfect for a romantic dinner in front of a crackling fire or a summers evening BBQ.Vintage Notes 2012 began with a cool spring that delayed bud break until mid-April, three weeks later than usual, which minimized late frost damage. The weather warmed in May and June causing vigorous canopy growth and a very hot July sped up veraison a bit. Early August cooled and put the vintage back on track but was then followed by a hot September with cool Paso nights that helped balance ripeness, maturity, and acid levels in our fruit. The first light rainfall occurred on October 10th, but did not affect the harvest as the weather warmed up again yielding excellent fruit. We brought in the last cabernet franc fruit for our 2012 JUSTIFICATION in perfect condition right before our harvest ended in mid-November, just few weeks later than usual.Vinification FermentationStainless steel open and closed-top tanks with UV43 yeast, twice daily pump overs and 20 days of skin contact.Maturation 19 months in 100% French oak 47% new.Tasting Notes AppearanceBright, deep ruby purple core, going to medium intensity at the rim.AromaRipe blackcurrant, red cherry with vanilla and cinnamon spice, with a hint of dark chocolate and savory herbal notes.PalateElegant mix of cassis, black cherry jam, baking spice notes and licorice on the entry. The mid-palate shows more savory herbal notes over a red Fruit Roll-Ups background with a little Bakers Chocolate and some lingering minty herbal accents toward the finish. The finish itself is crisp, full, and long with balanced fruit, spice and herbal notes surrounded with firm tannins that tie everything together. Always an exercise in elegance, the 2012 JUSTIFICATION is a great pairing to dishes such as game fowl, meats like veal or more subtle cuts of beef like filet mignon, especially with an herbed red wine sauce. – Justin Vineyards & Winery