Owned by Stanly Kroenke, the same gentleman that owns Screaming Eagle, Jonata has catapulted itself to the forefront of Santa Barbara County winemaking! Their vineyards are sustainably farmed, the wines routinely received high scores from the critics, and it was their "Todos" blend that really struck a chord with us this year! "Todos" translates to everything, and no, Jonata didn't just blend every single barrel of the leftovers. There were fantastic barrels of Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot, etc., so winemaker Matt Dees did blending trials with specific quantities of each varietal, and for the past few years, Todos has been an incredible wine for the money!
JEB DUNNUCK 93-95 POINTS - "The talented winemaking team of Matt Dees and Drew Pickering continue to keep Jonata near the top of the pyramid in Santa Barbara County. Pulling all from their estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon, which is mostly sandy soils, they make a wealth of wines, yet the quality is spectacular across the board. In general, the wines are a touch more polished and approachable today than in the past (which I think is a good thing), and while they’ll still benefit from bottle age, they offer plenty of pleasure in their youth."
"Another wine that's just about to be bottled is the 2020 Todos, which is a final blend of 57% Syrah, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest a mix of varieties. Ripe blueberries, fresh plums, chocolate, and peppery notes all define the nose, and it's full-bodied, with a plush, rounded texture, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It should be a no-brainer purchase."
JEB DUNNUCK 93-95 POINTS - "The talented winemaking team of Matt Dees and Drew Pickering continue to keep Jonata near the top of the pyramid in Santa Barbara County. Pulling all from their estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon, which is mostly sandy soils, they make a wealth of wines, yet the quality is spectacular across the board. In general, the wines are a touch more polished and approachable today than in the past (which I think is a good thing), and while they’ll still benefit from bottle age, they offer plenty of pleasure in their youth."
"Another wine that's just about to be bottled is the 2020 Todos, which is a final blend of 57% Syrah, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest a mix of varieties. Ripe blueberries, fresh plums, chocolate, and peppery notes all define the nose, and it's full-bodied, with a plush, rounded texture, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It should be a no-brainer purchase."
