2010 El Desafio de Jonata
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Tasting notes
The vintage with the least Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 El Desafio de Jonata has a Loire-like herbal bouquet of blackcurrants, leafy herbs, earth and lead pencil shavings. It's elegant, medium to full-bodied and lively on the palate, with good acidity, fine, polished tannin and good concentration. It's going to evolve nicely for another decade or more. The 2010 is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot and the balance Merlot that spent 20 months in 80% new French oak. Based out of Ballard Canyon and run by superstar winemaker Matt Dees (Michel Rolland also consults here), Jonata makes a bevy of brilliant wines from Rhône, Bordeaux, and Burgundian varieties. The El Desafio de Jonata release is the Cabernet Sauvignon-based release, and it normally includes upwards of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The elevage is in plenty of new oak, yet I rarely find any noticeable oak in the cuvee. The 2005 is just now entering its prime drink window, and this is unquestionably one of the longest-lived cuvees coming out of Santa Barbara today.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
(43% cabernet sauvignon, 32% cabernet franc, 14% petit verdot and 11% merlot; 80% new French oak): Inky purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet displays dark berry preserves, olive, fresh violet and a smoky touch of black pepper. Smells eerily like syrah. Spicy and penetrating, with excellent depth to its sweet blackberry, blueberry and floral pastille flavors. Juicy acidity provides lift and spine as well as vivacity to a strikingly long, sweet, spice-tinged finish.
A tweaked blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot and 11% Malbec, the 2010 El Desafio de Jonata is the most approachable of the lineup and offers up lovely wild herbs, cured meats, underbrush and spice as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It will hit maturity well before the other more Cabernet-dominated efforts, yet should still have a graceful evolution with upwards of 15 years or more of longevity. Drink now-2025. 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
About the producer
Jonata is amongst a handful of truly exciting wineries from Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara – a unique fine wine region of incredible versatility.