2007 El Alma de Jonata

Moving to their Bordeaux blends, the El Alma de Jonata is the estate’s Cabernet Franc- dominated blend and normally incorporates 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller components of Merlot and Petit Verdot. The 2007 El Alma de Jonata got a big “Wow” in my notes and is an incredible Cabernet Franc from California. Deep, rich and layered, with full-bodied richness, massive structure and ripe tannin, it offers up complex notes of chocolate, black currants, lead pencil shavings and toast as well as no hard edges and blockbuster length. It should continue to evolve gracefully, but there’s no harm in drinking it now either. Drink now-2022. This was an incredible tasting with winemaker Matt Dees. This estate continues to produce some of the most impressive, long-lived wines in Santa Barbara. As I’ve learned from past tasting, it’s always best to schedule this appointment at the end of the day as these effort have no shortage of tannin and can wreak havoc on one’s palate. While I’ve routinely tasted the La Sangre de Jonata for a number of years now, it was great to be able to go back through past vintages of this estate’s other wines. In addition to these efforts bottled under the Jonata label, I was also able to taste their The Hilt and The Pairing releases, both of which are also reviewed in this report (and highly recommended). Tel. (805) 564-8581; www.jonata.com

(89% cabernet franc, 7% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot and 1% petit verdot) Glass-staining ruby. Pungent dark fruits and flowers on the nose, with complicating notes of licorice, pipe tobacco and minerals. Spicy, palate-staining blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity and pick up exotic floral and fruitcake qualities in the mid-palate. Large-scaled but structured, with excellent finishing clarity and sweet, sappy persistence. Shows the potential for this variety in a warm climate and from a hot vintage.