"A blend of 56% Grenache, 31% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah brought up all in older oak, the 2016 Justine offers a great core of black fruits as well as lots of peppery herbs, earth, and classic meatiness. It looks to be a great vintage for this cuvée."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018), 92-94 pts
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019), 91-93 pts
"Healthy medium red. Slightly wild aromas of red raspberry, smoked meat and peppery herbs. Tactile and energetic in the mouth, conveying a juicy quality and excellent energy and lift to its flavors of strawberry, wild cherry, anise and pepper. This is ultimately quite silky and fine-grained, as well as a bit lower in alcohol than the 2016 bottling. Chris Peterson included 20% stems in the fermentation but noted that he still destems all of his fruit and then adds back a portion of the stems. Incidentally, Peterson discontinued his Les Trouvés Red Wine after the 2016 vintage, as he introduced his new value-priced Lydian wines. (14.6% alcohol) - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2019), 92 pts
"A blend of 61% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre and 16% Syrah, the 2017 Justine has a dusty, red-fruited nose with subtle red spices and hints of cherry blossom. Medium-bodied, the wine has a terroir-driven palate and tastes of dusty cherry, seeming just a touch tart across the mid-palate. The wine lingers long on the firm, spicy and dusty finish. With only 315 cases made, I recommend seeking some out at this price. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #246, December 2019), 92 pts
"Grenache (61%) is in the lead on this wine, followed by Mourvèdre (23%) and Syrah. Alluring aromas of raspberry, blueberry, thistle, herb, smoked meat and black pepper are followed by lush, achingly pure red and blue fruit flavors, accented by a lovely sense of spicing. It's deft but pure. Smoked meat and black pepper notes linger on the extremely long finish. The balance throughout is impressive—a complete stunner. Best from 2023 to 2030, with good life beyond that. - SEAN P. SULLIVAN"
- Wine Enthusiast (April 2020), 93 pts, Editors' Choice
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2020), 92 pts
"With a lovely, aromatic nose, the 2018 Justine is elegant with aromas of purple flowers, black pepper spices and soft oaky tones, then offers up nuances of smoked sausages, black olive, dried herbs and sun-kissed lavender and violet petals that sway with hints of baked earth and worn leather. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is expressive, floral, clean and focused with elegant plum tones and black raspberries that have been dusted with finely ground black peppercorn. Displaying amazing focus with a soft floral essence, the wine concludes with an elegant, long-lingering finish that evolves in the mouth with a delicate floral tension and soft spiciness that is simply amazing. Wow! - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (October 2020), 93 pts
