Winemaker Notes
Swirling and towering nose. Complex and sophisticated. Deep red, dark green and pitch black. Cassis, espresso bean, bay, thyme and rosemary. Ethereal and velvet fruit. Perfectly steeped black tea. Creamy and dense on the palate. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate.
Blend: 86% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 El Alma de Jonata is the Cabernet Franc-dominated cuvée. (There’s 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot in the blend.) This beauty sports an inky color as well as Cheval Blanc-like notes of black cherries, cassis, crushed flowers, graphite and lead pencil. The suppleness and sexiness of the 2016 vintage has worked magic on this wine, which is incredibly opulent, expansive and seamless on the palate, with awesome purity of fruit, present tannins, and a huge finish. It's a tour de force from Santa Barbara that's up with the best in the world.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 El Alma de Jonata is a blend of 86% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot aged in 70% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby-purple, it has a classic nose of sliced jalapeño, soy sauce, pipe tobacco and old leather with cocoa, blackcurrant bud, cassis, baked black plums and red fruit sparks plus cedar hints. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a nice interplay of savory, spice and fruit character in the mouth, with firm, chewy tannins and good freshness, finishing long. A powerful expression.
Rating: 92(+)
Jonata is the embodiment of land, soul, and people coming together for a common goal; to produce singular wines from a singular place.
Land – Jonata is a stunning 600 acre property, with 80 acres of estate vineyard on golden rolling hills in Ballard Canyon. High concentrations of Careaga sand run through the estate. A challenging landscape for cultivation and a key element to the qualities of Jonata, pushing our vines to drive deep in search of nutrients.
Soul – Timeless and diverse practices are in place to create health and community at Jonata. Polyface farming practices are implemented to create a diverse and sustainable ecosystem, utilizing a blend of sustainable practices that continue to build the health of Jonata.
People – Since 2004, a consistent team remains at the core. Winemaker Matt Dees & Vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano combine their experiences in winemaking, soil science and farming expertise to help Jonata thrive.
Cabernet Franc, a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, is the subtler and more delicate of the Cabernets. Today Cabernet Franc produces outstanding single varietal wines across the wine-producing world. Somm Secret—One of California's best-kept secrets is the Happy Canyon appellation of Santa Barbara. Here Cabernet Franc shines as a single varietal wine or in blends, expressing sumptuous fruit, savory aromas and polished tannins.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.