Winemaker Notes
Packed with black fruit, mint and notes of fresh turned soil. Incense and iodine. Texturally this wine is unmatched in the stable of JONATA red wines. It absolutely covers the entire palate with joyous and vibrant dark and dense fruit. It has to be tasted to be believed. It saturates with the power of its fruit, but then remains buoyant and lifted by freshness and energy. It is naturally rich, but never over the top or flamboyant. Notes of graphite, dark chocolate and espresso bean. It finishes up with lift and vibrancy, forgiving tannins and dusty black fruit. In 2020, the Merlot again makes a strong claim to be the finest red grape on the property. At 96% Merlot, this is its loudest statement to date.
Blend: 96% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2020 Fenix, nearly all Merlot for the very first time, is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Jonata. Dark, rich and bursting with pure unbridled energy, the Fenix is shaping up to be tremendous. Black cherry, licorice, chocolate and new leather saturate the palate. The 2020 is so impressive. I tasted it from tank just prior to bottling.
Barrel Sample: 96-98
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Jeb Dunnuck
Scheduled to be bottled shortly after this tasting, the 2020 Fenix sports a deep purple hue to go with a rocking bouquet of blueberries, ripe cherries, scorched earth, chocolate, and graphite. This plump, full-bodied, plush, sexy Merlot has great tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length.
Barrel Sample: 94-96+
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Decanter
Aromatics of blueberries, potpourri, spiced plums, and baking spices leap from the glass, as well as this generous Merlot from Ballard Canyon and the sandy soils of the Jonata estate vineyards. The palate is polished, and cloves and smoke introduce savoury notes of lavender, mint, and dusty gravel minerality. Tangy blackberries mark blue and black fruits, smoky minerals, turned earth and hot embers all come together beautifully. This wine will continue to evolve and retain a gorgeous elegance and balance.
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.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Accounting for only ten percent of the greater Santa Ynez AVA, Ballard Canyon’s north-south orientation provides an ideal pattern of sunshine and martime fog for producing excellent Syrah. While Syrah is planted to half of the total AVA acreage, an additional third is dedicated to other Rhône varieties, red and white.