Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A compelling Chapoutier Ermitage look-alike, the 2007 La Sangre de Jonata is composed of 98% Syrah and 2% co-fermented Viognier fashioned from yields of 1 to 2.2 tons of fruit per acre. A prodigious example of Jonata’s style of Syrah, its black color is accompanied by a striking perfume of honeysuckle, white peaches, blackberry liqueur, charcoal, graphite, and pen ink, soft tannins, full-bodied power, a mutlidimensional personality, and a finish that lasts over a minute. This 2007 will flirt with perfection when it is released in 2010. Range: 98-100
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Wine Enthusiast
So rich and concentrated, this blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier is mind-blowing. It has massive flavors of blackberries, cherries, dark chocolate and spices. But it’s not just the delicious factor that grabs you, it’s how pure and balanced the tannins and acids are.
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Wine Spectator
Very tight, dense and concentrated, packed with dried berry, blackberry liqueur, mineral, graphite, black licorice and cedar flavors. Full-bodied, well-structured and focused, slowly unfolding to reveal an incredibly long and detailed finish. Best from 2012 through 2023. 300 cases made.
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James Suckling
Impressive fruit wtih coco, chocolate and berry character with hints of spices. Full and chewy. Long fresh finish. Syrah.
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.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.