Josh Cellars

Josh Cellars is a new project from vintner Joseph Carr, named after his firefighter father and promoted alongside a charity. For each "like" on the Facebook page, the company will dedicate $2 to the Gary Sinise Foundation that supports veterans and first responders (donations are made up to $5,000). The drive ended on October 2, but I'd encourage you to still click "like" and show your support for those who get called out in the middle of the night to save those who need help in times of crisis. My family has had a long tradition of learning CPR, lifesaving, and other critical skills. Unfortunately, there are many occasions when those skills have been put to the test. Fortunately, we were prepared and in the right place to provide assistance. Doing that every day is a much harder task and one that needs to be recognized.

2012 Josh Cellars Chardonnay
North Coast, California
100% Chardonnay
$17, 13.9% abv.

Bright and mildly acidic with aromas of ripe peach and apricot. Fruity, but balanced and a good sipper without being overly tart. I made a great tuna salad sandwich incorporating celery, walnuts, and grapes, and found that this wine was a great pairing for a late lunch.

2012 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
$15, 14.1% abv.

A great dark berry red with low tannins. Bold fruit but a round body with a gentle finish. An excellent bargain Cabernet Sauvignon that went well with a homemade pepperoni pizza on a Tuesday night. Were I to try it again I'd go with one of those great firehouse recipes like chile con carne or a big batch of spaghetti with smoked peppers.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.