2009 La Sangre de Jonata
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Tasting notes
An incredible wine, the 2009 La Sangre De Jonata is 98% Syrah and 2% co-fermented Viognier that was brought up in 50% new oak. I was blown away by this wine on release, rating it close to perfect from barrel twice and 99 points from bottle, and I'm thrilled to see it continue to show so well today. Still youthfully purple/ruby-hued, it has an incredible bouquet of ripe blackberries, beef blood, scorched earth, crushed stone, and hints of leather. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has incredible purity in its aromas and flavors, beautifully integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a great, great finish. It's still not fully mature and would stand toe to toe with (if not beat) a great Hermitage. It needs an hour in a decanter today and will evolve for another 10-15 years. Bravo!
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
(includes 1% viognier): Inky purple. Explosively aromatic bouquet evokes dark berry preserves and pungent flowers, along with allspice and star anise. Suave and seamless, with intense black raspberry, bitter chocolate, spicecake and espresso flavors. Really expands on the endless finish, which features suave, silky tannins and superb clarity.
The 2009 La Sangre de Jonata is very awkward at first, but gradually opens up to reveal huge fruit backed up by equally imposing, masculine tannin. If opened today, the wine will require quite a bit of air. Ideally, it is best left alone for several years. At this stage, the aromas and flavors are very much primary. It is the wine's textural elegance and layered personality that impress above all else. With air, the wine truly begins to blossom. In 2009, there is just a touch (1%) of Viognier in the blend. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. Jonata truly stands out in the Central Coast as a producer of exceptionally refined wines. This year I tasted with Winemaker Matt Dees and General Manager Armand de Maigret. According to Dees, macerations were quite long in 2009 because the grapes had very high levels of phenolic ripeness. Vintage 2010 was trickier, especially with regards to rain that claimed at least one victim, the Cabernet Franc-based El Alma de Jonata, which was not produced that year. The 2009 reds were all in bottle, while the 2010 reds were in barrel. I also tasted the new releases from The Hilt, a new Pinot/Chardonnay project that is reviewed separately in these pages. Tel. (805) 564-8581
The 2009 La Sangre de Jonata is shy and inward at this stage. With time in the glass the layers of silky, refined fruit begin to emerge. The 2009 possesses dazzling inner perfume and an understated, refined personality. This is a classy wine with a bright future. La Sangre is predominantly Syrah, with 1% Viognier, aged in medium-sized French oak barrels, 50% new.
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.