Deep gold color; apple, peach, citrus on the nose; citrus, peach, pear, apple, lemon, honey, touch of oak, vanilla, dollop of honey on the palate.
Dry; medium body, medium acidity, tartness on the initial attack that softens by mid-palate. Buttery from full malolactic fermentation. Ripe fruits, flirts with richness, smooth. Simple, not nuanced, positioned to please casual wine drinkers. Consistent, predictable, more than 700,000 cases produced each year. 13.5% ABV
Josh Cellars is a négociant brand, which means Joseph Carr doesn’t own a winery or vineyards, although Joseph Carr does work with grape growers and directs winemaking. Joseph Carr worked in hospitality in New York, particularly the Big Tree Inn in Upstate New York, beginning in 1979. He started as a busboy and worked his way up to being the wine steward.
In 2001, Joseph and his wife, Dee, decided he could quit working for others and pursue his dream of working for himself making wine. Joseph Carr Wines released their first premium Napa cabernet sauvignon in 2002. In 2005, Josh Cellars was born with Tom Larson, a Sonoma legend, as winemaker. Today, Wayne Donaldson is the winemaker. He brings three decades of experience from all over the world, starting with his native Australia, to the task.
Josh Cellars is named for Joseph’s father, Joseph “Josh” Carr. The effort took off quickly. In 2012, Carr partnered with Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits to sell Josh Cellars and Joseph Carr wines. By 2015, they were selling one million cases. Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits is the 10th largest wine distributor in the U.S., selling five million cases a year, with Josh Cellars leading the way. Other Deutsch brands include Yellow Tail, Ruta 22, Georges Duboeuf, and many others.
Joseph Carr Josh Cellars Chardonnay 2020 is a showy commercial wine you easily can find thanks to abundant production and distribution. Crowd pleaser rather than being a sophisticated chard. It is good at being what it is meant to be. Easy drinker, uncomplicated, consistent, inoffensive. Safe call for array of wine drinkers. Works as an aperitif or stand-around-talking social event where focus is not on the wine. Pair with seafood, crab, shrimp, freshwater fish; grilled chicken salad with avocado; lamb chops; pork; salads and vegetarian fare; baked bried with cranberries and spiced pecans; appetizers and snacks; charcuterie board. Cheese—creamy and bloomy cheese; fresh and soft cheese; bleu cheese, humbolt fog, brie, camembert, sharp cheddar, ricotta. $11-15
