2004 Jonata La Sangre de Jonata
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Tasting notes
Like the ’04 El Corazon, the 2004 Jonata Winery La Sangre de Jonata is youthful and backwards, sporting dense, compact aromatics of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, iron, and dried blood, all wrapped around a tightly wound core of black fruits. Full bodied on the palate with a superb texture, and masses of chewy, slightly rustic tannins on the finish, this serious wine should flesh out in another 3 to 5 years and drink well for a decade afterwards.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Glass-staining purple. Sexy raspberry and kirsch aromas are deepened by musky floral and herbal qualities, gaining strong licorice and cola qualities with air. Sweet dark fruit liqueur flavors are complicated by sultry bacon fat and graphite, giving this a Cornas-like character. This syrah impresses with its depth, sweetness and complexity, and finishes with outstanding clarity and sweetness.
The 2004 La Sangre de Jonata (100% Syrah) was aged 19 months in 60% new French oak and 40% two-year old French wood. It offers beautiful chocolate, blackberry, charcoal, acacia flower, and roasted meat characteristics, rich, full-bodied flavors, lovely purity, refreshing acids, and ripe tannin. Drink this powerful yet graceful Syrah over the next 10+ years. It appears 2006 has produced slightly lighter, but high-class wines without the weight and power of the 2005s. The Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Franc are especially noteworthy. The only wine that did not excite me was a non-vintage blend of 81% sweet botrytised Semillon and 19% Sauvignon Blanc. A combination of 2004, 2005, and 2006, the La Miel de Jonata was decidedly monolithic and one-dimensional compared to the other brilliant wines from this spectacular new producer in the Santa Ynez Valley. Fasten your seatbelts as these wines will give purchasers a serious ride for their money! Tel. (805) 564-8581
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.