J. Wilkes Wines, Highlands District – Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($40)

This is very ripe and soft for Cabernet from anywhere, even Paso Robles, but the style will suit many tasters. If I were ordering a glass of red wine to drink cocktail-style from a bar while waiting for my dinner table, I’d probably order Pinot instead, but as Cabernet goes, this would serve the purpose well. Vanilla shows prominently in the aromas, with black cherry fruit that shows very little tannic grip in the finish — for better or worse as a subjective matter.
89 Michael Franz