Jonata Winery La Sangre de Jonata Ballard Canyon Syrah 2021

97 Points - limited                                  Limited new release from Jonata, one of Santa Barbara's most exclusive producers and winemaker Matt Dees. 99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Lastly, the 2021 La Sangre De Jonata is Syrah-dominated but includes 4% Petite Sirah and a dollop of Viognier. Reminding me of a great Côte Rôtie from the more schist soils in the northern part of the appellation, its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a masculine, powerful bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and peppered meat, with a kiss of spring flowers coming through on the palate. It's rich and full-bodied, with building yet incredibly polished tannins and a great finish. Easily up with the finest ever made, this tour de force in Syrah needs to be tasted to be believed, and while it offers pleasure today, it will benefit from just 2-4 years of bottle age and evolve for 20+." 96 Points Robert Parker: "One of the most wound-up wines in the range yet also one of the most generous, the 2021 La Sangre de Jonata is one of the more concentrated, decadent wines produced in Santa Barbara County but manages impressive balance and nuance. The nose is opaque and concentrated, but it displays lifted herbal and floral accents that form around a meaty, grilled core. The palate is remarkably plush yet palpably tight, initially only showing a shell of the power contained within. The finish is dramatic in its sturdy, slow-moving nature and admirably doesn't give away the game at the outset, instead continuing to swell in the glass dynamically. The tannin profile is quite chewy yet balanced by ripe, lush fruit flavors that linger with substantial length. It's a blend of 95% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and 1% Viognier." Jonata occupies a uniquely lofty place in the Santa Barbara County wine landscape, offering a luxurious array of wines steeped in modernity and grandiosity while retaining a sense of authenticity and clear delineation between bottlings. Winemaker Matt Dees has increasingly honed these offerings over the past few vintages, due in no small part to their meticulously planned, state-of-the-art facility coming on line in 2019. These refinements are particularly displayed in the structured yet energetic 2021s, representing, to my palate, the most complete, balanced and multifaceted wines produced by this team thus far. Typical winemaking practices include five- to six-day cold soaks, two- to three-week macerations, a small amount of concentrating saignée and 20 months of élevage in 50% to 80% new Taransaud barrels.  

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