{"id":31585,"date":"2024-03-14T04:57:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T11:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/?p=31585"},"modified":"2024-03-13T17:12:06","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T00:12:06","slug":"best-josh-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/article\/best-josh-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Josh Wines, Ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Josh wines have been around for a while, filling liquor store shelves and, notably for our purposes, grocery store shelves with big, stately bottles of bold Cabernets and buttery Chardonnays. But earlier this year, Josh made the jump from grocery store wine standby to internet meme sensation. If you want to know the full story of how the Josh wine meme came to be<\/a>, Food & Wine <\/em>has a full account. But, basically, people think it\u2019s funny that a wine could just be called Josh. So now that it\u2019s the name on everyone\u2019s lips, the question is, should it be in everyone\u2019s glass? Is Josh wine good?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We snagged 15 bottles of Josh Cellars wine to find out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before we dive in, let\u2019s talk a bit about what we were looking for in the best Josh wine and why I believe I\u2019m uniquely qualified to talk about it. I have a background in wine tasting (that\u2019s not a cute joke about how much I like to drink, I genuinely used to do it as part of my old job). So I\u2019ve tasted some fancy stuff. I know what expensive Bordeaux tastes like. I use insufferable words like \u201ctannins\u201d and \u201cred fruit\u201d and \u201cmalolactic fermentation.\u201d BUT! In my days as a student\/journalist\/wine store clerk (and beyond), I have also enjoyed the budget-friendly wines from the grocery store. I have had a lot of Franzia and Charles Shaw. So, I came at this Josh wines taste test with the knowledge of both a wine snob and a cheapskate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Josh wines fall around the $15 to $20 range. That\u2019s certainly more expensive than a lot of the wine you get at a grocery store, but it\u2019s not outrageous. Still, it\u2019s more than you might want to spend without knowing what you\u2019re getting. While tasting, we looked for depth of flavor, quality of fruit, and general tastiness. None of the wines we tried were bad. But some are definitely better than others. Here are 15 bottles of Josh Cellars wine ranked from just okay to excellent. I\u2019ll try not to get too jargony with each Josh wine review, but old habits die hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Ros\u00e9 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Ros\u00e9 ($13)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The label doesn\u2019t indicate what types of grapes are used in this Josh ros\u00e9 wine, but according to Vivino<\/a>, it\u2019s Barbera, an Italian red varietal known for being bright and acidic. Sadly, that vibrant flavor didn\u2019t come through for me. Ros\u00e9 is the go-to day-drinking wine because it\u2019s easy- to drink. It\u2019s beach water or summer water or whatever cute name you want to give it. But this one takes the \u201cwater\u201d thing a little too seriously. There\u2019s not enough flavor to hold onto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

North Coast Chardonnay<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve North Coast Chardonnay ($15)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Where\u2019s the oomph? Where\u2019s the oak? Where\u2019s the zip? Chardonnay is a powerful grape! This Josh white wine is simply too soft and gentle. It doesn\u2019t have enough zing. It\u2019s very subtle. That said, it\u2019s not bad and it\u2019s light enough that you don\u2019t need to pair it with food; it\u2019s just not as good as the other Josh Chardonnay (see #4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

5.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Merlot<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Merlot ($15)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This is possibly the lightest Merlot I\u2019ve ever tasted. Where\u2019s the fruit? It\u2019s hiding back there. If I really think about it, I can get some blueberry notes. But that\u2019s about it. Once again, this is not bad, but it\u2019s not what you want out of a Merlot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

5.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Sauvignon Blanc ($15)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This Sauvignon Blanc can\u2019t commit to being a Sauvignon Blanc. It\u2019s not zingy enough and it doesn\u2019t have enough grassy herbaceousness. It\u2019s shy. It comes across as being lower in acidity than many other Sauvignon Blancs, though, so if you\u2019re nervous about acidity but interested in Sauv Blanc, this is a good one to try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Legacy Red Blend<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Legacy Red Blend ($18)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars is known for their red wines. And this is certainly a red wine. It tastes Cabernet heavy to me with a ton of hearty, mouth-coating tannins and a lot of tangy, tart cooked fruit flavor. It\u2019s a bit too tannic to sip on its own\u2014it needs food. I wouldn\u2019t run out and buy this Josh red wine again, but if it was on the table, I\u2019ll pour a glass to pair with some stew<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Cabernet Sauvignon<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The standard Josh Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a lot of oak. Lots and lots of oak. You get a ton of sweet, vanilla-tinged, woodsy flavor. It\u2019s a good start! But it could use more fruit to make it an interesting sipper. If you\u2019re looking for the best Josh red wine, keep reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Bourbon Barrel Aged Zin<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel ($23)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019m pretty sure I would have loved this big, bold, boozy-as-all-heck Josh red wine in my younger days. But right now, it comes across as a bit much. It comes in at 14.5% ABV, but it feels much higher. It almost burns the back of your throat with its booziness. A touch more of that classic Zin red fruit could have helped balance things out, but, alas, it\u2019s mostly just hefty alcoholic heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
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Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon ($23)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Like the bourbon barrel aged Zin, the bourbon barrel aged Cab is also a lot<\/em>. It\u2019s tannic and it tastes like it\u2019s been cooked down\u2014it\u2019s almost syrupy straight out of the bottle. After spending a little time in the glass, it mellows out a bit. It needs to breathe. But even after that, this is a one-and-done kind of wine. A good wine to end the evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
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Hearth Cab<\/strong>ernet<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Hearth Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The label is bold, but the wine is very gentle. It tastes like it\u2019s been aged for a long time\u2014the edges are smoothed out and you\u2019re left with a round, earthy, mellow red wine. Take a tip from the label and drink this Josh red wine by a bonfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Central Coast Pinot Noir<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Central Coast Pinot Noir ($21)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Pinot Noirs are often categorized as light red wines\u2014but not this Josh red wine. This is a dark, deep Pinot Noir. It is heavy with lots of cooked berry flavor. It\u2019s a winter Pinot Noir. But because it\u2019s not too tannic, you can still pair it with lots of different foods, which makes it the best Josh wine to bring to Thanksgiving. The dark fruit will pair nicely with everything from turkey and gravy to spinach salad. It would also be my pick to pair with salmon teriyaki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
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Alexander Valley Cab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($23)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This is a classic Cabernet. It\u2019s rich, it\u2019s tannic, it\u2019s fruity. But it\u2019s not overwhelming. It even has a hint of herbaceousness at the end to give you a break from the deep, dark fruit. It\u2019s the best Josh wine to pair with a steak. I\u2019ve had a lot of far more expensive Cabernets that tasted an awful lot like this one. So, even though it\u2019s on the pricier end of the Josh wines spectrum, you\u2019re still getting a deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
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Chardonnay<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Chardonnay ($15)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This is the best Josh white wine. It is a classic California Chardonnay with a buttery, oaky backbone, but it has a ton of good fruit to balance it out, so it\u2019s not just a vanilla bomb. It has a hint of slate and some tropical pineapple flavor. But I love it for its acidity\u2014it makes the back of your tongue water. If you don\u2019t think you like Chardonnay because you\u2019ve only ever had big Napa-styles Chardonnays that give you a headache, try this Josh Cellars wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Paso Robles Cab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($23)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Grab your velvet slippers and your dressing gown. This is the best Josh wine to sip by the fire in a well-appointed home library\u2014preferably paired with a hunk of really good stilton cheese. This tastes like dried cherries to the max. It\u2019s tart and focused and intense with a bit of vanilla from the oak barrel. This tastes like dessert Cabernet to me. It was (one of) the Josh wines I took home after this tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
\n

Lodi Zinfandel<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Lodi Zinfandel ($15)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Total Wine<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Looking for a jammy Zinfandel? Josh is here for you. This Zin is seriously jammy\u2014like homemade blackberry jam with a hint of BBQ smoke. It has the right amount of acidity and a bit of an edge, but otherwise it\u2019s blackberry pie. This would be SO good with some saucy ribs. It\u2019s the best Josh red wine if you\u2019re in it for the fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Total Wine<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Josh
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North Coast Cab<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Josh Reserve North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon ($23)<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
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Josh Cellars<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Picture a patch of blueberries growing off a rocky coast\u2014now picture drinking that tableau. That\u2019s what this Josh red wine tastes like. It\u2019s berries and sea salt and sage and a touch of smoke. It\u2019s nuanced. You can really sit and think about what you\u2019re tasting (it\u2019s the best Josh wine to drink if you\u2019re looking to avoid talking to people!). It has enough of a backbone to pair with hearty, meaty dishes, but it\u2019s balanced enough to enjoy a glass on its own. Yes, it\u2019s another pricey bottle, but trust me, this is the best Josh wine we tried. It\u2019s worth the extra cheddar. Oh, it\u2019d be good with cheddar<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Josh Cellars<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

10\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n<\/dl>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you know Josh?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"articletype":[46],"coauthors":[387],"class_list":["post-31585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beverages","articletype-rankings"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ranking_josh-wine_header.jpg","posts_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31585"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31587,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31585\/revisions\/31587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31585"},{"taxonomy":"articletype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articletype?post=31585"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=31585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}