2018 Jonata La Fuerza de Jonata
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Tasting notes
Only made in select vintages and all Petit Verdot, fermented with two-thirds whole cluster, the 2018 Fuerza has a singular style in its blue fruits, crushed violets, peppery herbs, and orange blossom aromas and flavors. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, with ample tannins, this beauty will need a decade to hit maturity, but it might just last forever. Winemaker Matt Dees continues to fashion world class wines at Jonata. Due to the timing of my visit, the 2018s were tasted from barrel as opposed to bottle, hence the score range for the reviews. Regardless, this is a great vintage for the estate. The wines show the vintage’s fresher, more elegant and seamless style and have similarities to the estate’s 2016s. The 2019 vintage was the last vintage made at the old facility in Buellton, and starting in 2020, all of the wines will be made in a brand-new winery being built on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Fuerza, 100% Petit Verdot, captures all of the intense savoriness of that grape, with far more finesse than in the past. There is plenty of power, but the tannins that have been problematic in this wine in the past have been admirably tamed. Pine, menthol, alge, lavender, licorice and dark jammy fruit saturate the palate. In 2018, Fuerza is compelling. In fact, this may be the best vintage yet.
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.