2005 Jonata 'La Sangre de Jonata' Syrah Santa Ynez Valley
"Same brooding nature and impenetrable color as the 04, but with differences in the flavor profile. Displaying the characteristics of our clone 383. Grilled meats and licorice dominate the nose, with a sturdy layer of black fruits underlying. Black pepper, baking spice, soy sauce and truffles. Pure and focused nose. Massive density, depth and intensity. Mouth-filling, almost chewy, sweet blackberry. Dense and ultra-concentrated with mouthwatering acidity. A beauty and the beast-like monster of a wine, with surprising refinement on the finish." Matt Dees, Winemaker"
That low rumbling sound you hear is Jonata’s (hoe-na-ta) rocket engines warming up for takeoff. Established as a cousin winery to Napa’s acclaimed Screaming Eagle, their first commercial vintage in 2004 caused a stir among mailing list cognoscenti. Then the momentum began to build in the trade. And then Robert Parker called them “one of California’s most exciting new wineries” in a review, and the floodgates blasted open with collectors and connoisseurs scrambling to find their wares. Folks, we’re thrilled to tell you where you can get them! As Robert Parker has remarked, “What they are accomplishing with Bordeaux varietals is mind-boggling.” We can’t really make it any easier for you…
Jeb Dunnuck
A spectacular wine that has a long life ahead of it, the 2005 Jonata Winery La Sangre de Jonata strikes a perfect balance between ripe, decadent fruit, and firm, edgy underlying structure. The wine shows loads of cassis and assorted dark fruits that are intermixed with coffee, charcoal, and grilled meat nuances on the nose. Full bodied and stunningly textured, this still needs an additional 3 to 5 years in the cellar to let the tannins flesh out. A classic example of California Syrah!
Vinous
Opaque violet. Explosively perfumed nose offers a wild array of red and dark berry liqueur, floral oils and pungent herbs, all underscored by crackling minerality. Deep and sweet, with powerful cassis and black raspberry, candied licorice and violet pastille flavors. This reminded me of a big-ticket, single site Chapoutier Hermitage. The sweetness is reined in by firm mineral and bitter chocolate, but returns on the remarkably long, juicy finish. Pretty amazing for a sophomore effort.
Wine Advocate
The 100% Syrah offering, the 2005 La Sangre de Jonata, exhibits an inky/blue/purple hue along with a stunningly pure nose of melted licorice, meat juices, blackberries, pepper, and a hint of balsamic. It is a wine of extraordinary density, richness, high tannin, beautiful purity, laser-like acidity, and superb texture as well as length. This remarkable Syrah is both powerful and elegant. Give it several more years of bottle age, and consume it over the following 10-15 years.