A mid-level fruit-forward Red wine We’re Conflicted About

Joyus Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, 91 points

Lots of non-drinkers drool over Joyus Cabernet Sauvignon, and sure it should be on your non-alcoholic wine list for 2024, but not at the top. It’s a delicious mid-level red that delivers a quaffable taste and experience, but it’s overly juicy unless you’re a lover of juicy, fruit-forward wines.

Aroma

On the nose - it’s a juicy whoomph of jammy cassis like a midsummer garden, full of black fruit and candy.

Taste

It pours a deep dark scarlet and the palette is lightly dry and tannic, despite the overblown nose. There is juice here though too, with layers of black currant and a hint of baking vanilla. A slight astringency is nice and helps balance out the fruit.

Mouthfeel

There’s enough tannins to have a weighty mid-palette, but there’s not a lot of length as expected from a high-end bottle. It falls apart in the middle and feels a bit thin on the finish.

What to pair with Joyus Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a great choice for a nice cozy winter dinner, but it’s not tannic enough to cut through steak, so stick to pasta with red sauce and some juicy meatballs.

Available through drinkjoyus.com

How I score wines (based on IWSC standards):

95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers

90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.

85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.

80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.

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