Wine Advisor
Jonata, El Desafio de Jonata 2015
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 El Desafio de Jonata has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of cassis, blueberry compote and warm plums with hints of cigar box, dusty earth, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. The rich, medium to full-bodied palate gives layers of plums, earth notions and spices, with firm, grainy tannins to frame and a long, layered finish.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
Another blockbuster is the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 El Desafio de Jonata. Big, burly, structured and tannic, with lots of cassis, black currants, scorched earth and lead pencil aromas and flavors, it will need a decade of cellaring.
Reviewed by: Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 El Desafio de Jonata has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of cassis, blueberry compote and warm plums with hints of cigar box, dusty earth, cinnamon stick and bay leaves. The rich, medium to full-bodied palate gives layers of plums, earth notions and spices, with firm, grainy tannins to frame and a long, layered finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 El Desafio de Jonata, the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend, is dense, powerful and super-expressive, with tremendous textural richness and thrust. Still very, very young, the 2015 is going to need at least several years to come into its own. Even so, it is incredibly impressive in the early going.
About the Producer
Jonata Wines is located in the Santa Barbara wine region of California, USA. Jonata Wines owns 600 acres of land in the Golden Hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. Eighty of these acres are planted with grapes due to the unique microclimate and good soil conditions. These 80 acres are divided into more than 50 plots, each planted with a different grape variety. Matt Dees, the winemaker, studied soil science at the University of Vermont and has extensive winemaking experience, having also worked as a winemaker at Staglin Wines in Napa, California and at Craggy range in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He has a very keen sense of wine. Since its inception, it has released wines such as 2010 El Desafio de Jonata Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 El Alma El Desafio de Jonata Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, El Alma de Jonata Cabernet Franc 2009, La Sangre de Jonata Syrah 2007 and Todos Vineyard Blend 2007, among others.
