Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative newbie in the wine world, believed to have come onto the scene about 300 years ago from a spontaneous crossing of the much older cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc varieties on the Left Bank – the western region of Bordeaux in Southwestern France.

The climate in this region, while slightly warmer than the Right Bank, is only just within the range needed to fully ripen and mature cabernet sauvignon consistently each vintage. For this reason, Left Bank wines are typically blends of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot – grapes that ripen at different times and perform best at varying temperatures. This blending strategy helps ensure excellent wines are produced in both cooler and warmer years.

In California, we benefit from a warmer climate and a longer growing season, which allow us to fully ripen and mature cabernet sauvignon every vintage. As a result, areas like Napa and Paso Robles have become well known for producing varietal wines – wines made exclusively from a single grape variety. This would only be possible in warmer vintages in cabernet’s homeland on the Left Bank. We also have the option to craft traditional Bordeaux-style blends using cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and other varieties. These blends allow us to showcase the individual strengths of each grape, adding balance and complexity beyond what a varietal wine can offer.

At JUSTIN, we fully embrace the growing conditions of Paso Robles to produce wines like our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and PLATINUM Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines highlight the fruit-forward, warm-climate richness of cabernet, balanced by bright acidity and fine tannins. We also produce traditional blends like ISOSCELES and ISOSCELES Reserve, which combine multiple Bordeaux varieties to express the depth and versatility of the region. Explore the range of what Paso Robles has to offer with our portfolio of world-class Cabernets, Bordeaux blends, and more.