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Jonata
The Winery
Jonata
“This remarkable Santa Ynez estate is under the same ownership as Napa Valley’s Screaming Eagle winery… this is one of California’s most exciting new wineries. What they are accomplishing with Bordeaux varietals is mind-boggling.”
– Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Jonata is a 600-acre property in Santa Barbara County with only 83 of those acres planted to vines. The name of the producer, previously owned by Charles Banks and Stanley Kroenke, comes from a Spanish land grant from the 1840s, Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. The first harvest was in 2004 under the direction of Winemaker Matt Dees who dedicated himself to produce excellent Syrah, Sangiovese, and Bordeaux varietals contrary to widespread skepticism. The winery is dedicated to sustainability as a way to continue to improve the heavily emphasized quality movement that has become popular in recent years for the California wine industry.
Tasting Notes
- WA95–97
- Deeper and richer, the 2012 La Sangre de Jonata is an incredible looking blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier that’s aging in just 35% new French oak. Seeing 10% whole clusters, it’s another serious, savory vintage of this cuvee that has layers of dark fruits, ground pepper, coffee bean, chocolate and hints of iron in its full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet balanced and layered personality. While there’s massive tannin here, they stay nicely integrated, and there’s beautiful freshness and purity on the finish as well. Range:95-97
- V95
- The 2012 La Sangre de Jonata presents a super-polished expression of Syrah, with more than enough nuance to balance some of the more overt elements in the glass. Intense, varietally true aromatics and silky tannins only add to the wine's considerable appeal. A dollop of Viognier and a touch of whole clusters give the 2012 is highly appealing upper register. Winemaker Matt Dees aged the 2012 mostly in larger-format French oak barrels, with 35% new wood.
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