| Brand | Jonata |
| Appellation | California |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Oak Treatment | French oak |
| Aging | 20 months |
| Total Varietal Composition % | 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc |
Product details
Very few collectors know that the owners of Napa's Screaming Eagle also own the estate vineyard and winery in Santa Barbara County called Jonata. Today, we were fortunate to be one of the first ones to taste the new Jonata El Desafio 2017 (Cabernet) release and it is world class! There is literally no expense spared in the vineyard and the cellar. For example, in 2017 abnormal weather led to incredibly low yields, in turn leading to very limited production. Given the pedigree and the owner's commitment achieving the highest quality standards this wine is a relative value. Highly recommended!
The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated cuvée is the 2017 El Desafio De Jonata, which includes 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It's another inky colored wine from this team and offers a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, cedar, bay leaf, and crushed rocks. Beautifully concentrated and balanced, with a Bordeaux-like structure and regal style, it's a magical Cabernet Sauvignon that's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age yet keep for 20-30 years.
"The 2017 El Desafio de Jonata is another positively stellar wine in this range. Two thousand seventeen is one of the few years in which Cabernet is so dominant. Rich and explosive, with tremendous vertical thrust, the 2017 oozes with class and intensity. Crème de cassis, new leather, licorice, sweet spice and menthol are some of the many notes that build as this statuesque, alluring wine shows off its pedigree. In 2017, the blend is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Wow...! " - 97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous)
