Our Malbec has a medium-dark ruby color and opens with aromatics of dried cherry and dried cranberry, jasmine flowers, and mocha. Spicy notes of brown sugar, cinnamon and clove meld with black plum and blackberry fruit notes and a hint of fresh tobacco and cream earl grey tea. A smooth entry is balanced with a hint of racy acidity and finishes with a soft, tannic linger…
Specs
Alcohol: 14.2%
2022 J&J Cellars Merlot, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
J&J Paso Robles Merlot has ripe, expressive flavors of black cherry, plum, and blackberry. The warm climate gives the wine a soft, smooth mouthfeel, with gentle notes of cocoa, vanilla, and a touch of spice. Subtle hints of dried herbs and earth add depth, while mellow tannins and balanced acidity lead to a soft polished finish. A beautiful Paso Robles Merlot that over delivers for the price.
Specs
Alcohol: 13.9%
2022 J&J Cellars Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Appearance:
Deep ruby core with a hint of garnet at the rim. Viscous legs hint at a medium alcohol content.
Nose:
Bold and expressive. Aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry compote leap from the glass, interwoven with notes of black pepper, vanilla bean, toasted oak, and a touch of cinnamon. Hints of cocoa powder and dried herbs linger in the background.
Palate:
Full-bodied and fruit-forward, showcasing concentrated flavors of brambly berries, plum jam, and dried cranberries. The mid-palate reveals layers of sweet spice, clove, and mocha, supported by supple tannins and a warming, slightly peppery edge. The oak influence adds richness without overwhelming the fruit.
Finish:
Long and plush, with lingering notes of dark fruit, baking spice, and a touch of smoky char. The high alcohol is well-integrated, offering warmth without heat.
Overall:
A quintessential Paso Robles Zinfandel—ripe, bold, and generous. Ideal with barbecue, grilled meats, or aged cheddar.
Welcome to J&J Cellars, where wine is a way of life - A specialty craft forged over generations of family agricultural heritage, rooted in the exquisite soils of vineyards in the Paso Robles Appellation on California’s Central Coast.
We offer red and white wines that showcase the distinctive flavors of our vines and the natural excellence of Paso Robles, a world-class winegrowing region. We present our wines in the spirit of value and everyday enjoyment and have many options to enhance any occasion or dining experience.
We hope you enjoy J&J Cellars’ wines!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, PR
Labrat here! I had the 2022 J&J Zinfandel. I apologize but I’m coming down with a cold and it’s affecting my notes. But onto the review, the bottle is a screw cap which is nice that I don’t have to worry about getting corked. On pop and pour the nose is a bit raisinated, almost Madeira like. Color is a dark red. I don’t remember clarity so I’m guessing it was clear as I’d remember any cloudiness. On taste I felt it was almost stewed? Again reminded me of a Madeira. I had this with a rib roast and risotto, it didn’t need the food or get overwhelmed by the food. I finished off a second glass with a few Oreo cookies to see how it’d do with a heavy cocoa flavor and it was a pretty good pairing.
All in all it’s an interesting wine. If you like a fortified wine flavor with a lower alcohol content this would work. It felt more dessert wine to me. But again I’m coming down with a cold and I’m not hundred percent sure of my nose and palate.
Greetings! Good evening and good morning! (depending on the time zones)
I’m lucky enough to have been sent the 2022 J&J Cellars Malbec, made of Paso Robles grapes!
I really enjoy Malbec. I tend to find that when I’m at a party or a restaurant, Malbec is going to be always a safe choice. Malbec tends to always be Malbec (mostly).
After opening the screw cap, this J&J Cellars wine is darkly fresh fruited and bone dry. The nose doesn’t give a lot, and what it does is kinda savory – cut grass, wine barrel room. On the tongue it is actually quite full of fresh fruity with no raisining or cooked fruit tones – underripe blackberries, fresh black cherries, plenty of tannin, a fair amount of oak grip. The oak influence i’m getting as simply “wood” and not a lot of vanilla char. The lingering finish is quite long and doesn’t really change much from the initial attack. I still get the berries and the wood after a few minutes.
On day two it’s actually a little more astringent, and a little more alcoholic. The mouth finish goes even longer, with a lot more high tones upon the initial sip. It never is sweet, but certainly more in the direction of tart red table grape than dark plum.
To compare this back to a recent restaurant pick, i had a Horse Heaven Hills AVA (Washington State) Malbec, 2019. That was overwhelmingly overwhelming. That bottle was everything I feel a modern Napa Cabernet exudes – big alcohol, big grip, over the top flavor. The J&J is not that kind of Malbec.
This is going to be a crowd pleaser AND will stick up to any food you’d want a red wine to go with. It doesn’t tend sweet in any capacity, which makes it a consideration for me to stock up for parties and a random Monday night.
Dark fruits on the nose. Subtle tannin and full bodied. On the palate, I got the overwhelming sense this was much more like a Cabernet Franc, with the vegetal flavors, but some Cocoa made me think it was maybe more like a Bordeaux blend. Apparently, it’s just a bolder, darker Merlot than I’m used to.
I think fans of straightforward Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc would enjoy this more than the typical Merlot drinker. I believe the price point here makes sense, and there will be many happy customers when purchasing.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
J&J Cellars Mixed Reds - $30 = 21.42%
2022 J&J Cellars Malbec, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 J&J Cellars Merlot, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 J&J Cellars Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Appearance:
Nose:
Palate:
Finish:
Overall:
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$239.88/Case for 4x 2022 J&J Cellars Malbec, Merlot, Zinfandel at J&J Cellars
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, PR
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, Feb 19 - Monday, Feb 23
J&J Cellars Mixed Reds
6 bottles for $69.99 $11.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $109.99 $9.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2022 J&J Cellars Malbec
2022 J&J Cellars Merlot
2022 J&J Cellars Zinfandel
Labrat here! I had the 2022 J&J Zinfandel. I apologize but I’m coming down with a cold and it’s affecting my notes. But onto the review, the bottle is a screw cap which is nice that I don’t have to worry about getting corked. On pop and pour the nose is a bit raisinated, almost Madeira like. Color is a dark red. I don’t remember clarity so I’m guessing it was clear as I’d remember any cloudiness. On taste I felt it was almost stewed? Again reminded me of a Madeira. I had this with a rib roast and risotto, it didn’t need the food or get overwhelmed by the food. I finished off a second glass with a few Oreo cookies to see how it’d do with a heavy cocoa flavor and it was a pretty good pairing.
All in all it’s an interesting wine. If you like a fortified wine flavor with a lower alcohol content this would work. It felt more dessert wine to me. But again I’m coming down with a cold and I’m not hundred percent sure of my nose and palate.
@sdfreedive Thanks for the review, and I hope you feel better soon!
I’m lucky enough to have been sent the 2022 J&J Cellars Malbec, made of Paso Robles grapes!
I really enjoy Malbec. I tend to find that when I’m at a party or a restaurant, Malbec is going to be always a safe choice. Malbec tends to always be Malbec (mostly).
After opening the screw cap, this J&J Cellars wine is darkly fresh fruited and bone dry. The nose doesn’t give a lot, and what it does is kinda savory – cut grass, wine barrel room. On the tongue it is actually quite full of fresh fruity with no raisining or cooked fruit tones – underripe blackberries, fresh black cherries, plenty of tannin, a fair amount of oak grip. The oak influence i’m getting as simply “wood” and not a lot of vanilla char. The lingering finish is quite long and doesn’t really change much from the initial attack. I still get the berries and the wood after a few minutes.
On day two it’s actually a little more astringent, and a little more alcoholic. The mouth finish goes even longer, with a lot more high tones upon the initial sip. It never is sweet, but certainly more in the direction of tart red table grape than dark plum.
To compare this back to a recent restaurant pick, i had a Horse Heaven Hills AVA (Washington State) Malbec, 2019. That was overwhelmingly overwhelming. That bottle was everything I feel a modern Napa Cabernet exudes – big alcohol, big grip, over the top flavor. The J&J is not that kind of Malbec.
This is going to be a crowd pleaser AND will stick up to any food you’d want a red wine to go with. It doesn’t tend sweet in any capacity, which makes it a consideration for me to stock up for parties and a random Monday night.
Thanks! And have a great week!
I got the Merlot -
Dark fruits on the nose. Subtle tannin and full bodied. On the palate, I got the overwhelming sense this was much more like a Cabernet Franc, with the vegetal flavors, but some Cocoa made me think it was maybe more like a Bordeaux blend. Apparently, it’s just a bolder, darker Merlot than I’m used to.
I think fans of straightforward Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc would enjoy this more than the typical Merlot drinker. I believe the price point here makes sense, and there will be many happy customers when purchasing.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
J&J Cellars Mixed Reds - $30 = 21.42%