The Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 is a wine that lists for $21.99, but I found it on sale for $9.99.
The Story
The Josh reserve wines are the top-tier wines and are part of the bourbon barrel-aged series.
Joseph Carr created the Josh brand in 2006 in honor of his father. I have a theory that any wine that is named after a family member/loved one is going to be a good quality wine. If times get tough, they may cut corners on other wines, but these tribute wines will hold quality.
Josh Cellars is part of the Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits.
The grapes for the Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 are sourced from California, which is a little too generic for a $22 wine.
There are several procedures to age wine in bourbon barrels, which are charred on the inside, and wine barrels are toasted. A toasted barrel is much milder than a charred barrel.
One way is to age the wine for a time in a toasted barrel and then finish the wine off for a short time in the used bourbon oak.
Here, the fermented wine was aged for 2 months in the charred bourbon oak. The flavors of the charred oak are stronger and are designed to stand up to whiskey, not wine. But, then again, whiskey can be barrel-aged for years and not a few months like this Zinfandel.
The reinforce the Reserve label the bottle is heavy and would not be out of place for a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.
The alcohol content is a stiff 15%.
The Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is black with raspberry highlights. The nose is oak spice, blackberry, vanilla, coffee, fudge, black cherry, exotic spice, and plum. Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 is dark, rich, and enticing.
This Zinfandel tastes like extracted blackberry, cassis, bitter dark chocolate, and softer plum. Then pomegranate, ripe blueberry, and faint cold coffee. This wine is not flavor shy.
The tannins are soft and sweet, and the acidity allows the flavors to fully unfold; the 15% alcohol gives the flavors a ripe. juicy character.
The Summary
- The Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 is a fun wine. I was not sure I would go for the bourbon barrel flavoring, but it works.
- I found it on sale ($9.99) that is probably not universal, but with wine sales down for the last few years, there are sales to be had.
