2008 Jonata Winery El Desafio de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

A gorgeous California Cab as good as just about anything grown in the northern part of the state. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot. This vintage has much less Cabernet Sauvignon than typical. It is in a great spot right now. Young but it has shed its baby fat and is drinking quite well. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, pencil lead, slight tobacco, a bit of chocolate and some cherry notes. On the palate, this has light tannins. Plenty of cassis and cherry fruit with some earthy tobacco notes underneath. Complex. Good balance. Long finish. It will work with a wide variety of foods. It should cellar for another couple of decades depending on how you like your wines.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2008

Current Price:

$125.00USD

Top 50 California Cabernet Sauvignons to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

In putting together a list of the top California Cabernets, there is sure to be some disagreement. I tried to include those wines that have a track record, the wineries still making great wines, those that seemed to have the commitment for the future and some personal favorites. I am sure I left some out. 1. Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select – It’s always hard to name the number one wine. But this has a track record that’s very long. Even in less than stellar vintages, it is an outstanding wine. They just don’t seem to make a dud. My only complaint is the price at over $200 a bottle. But, in comparison to other Napa Cabs or elsewhere in the world, this is a fair price.

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2006 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage:

2006

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$115.00USD

This is still a bit young but rounding into peak form and almost there. With a bit of air, this is drinking quite well. A blend of 95% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot. Purple in color. The nose is great with black cherries, leather, cigar box, slight dark chocolate, cherries and slight spice. On the palate, this has a lush but firm texture. Lots of energy. Layers of fruit and dried tobacco with a bit of char. Complex. Light tannins. After about an hour, this was singing. Long finish. This will work with most heavier foods especially roasts or casseroles (wit

2008 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Wine Review

Vintage:

2008

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$125.00USD

This is a top quality winery from Southern California. The El Ama is one of the top Cabernet Francs made anywhere. Actually, it is 75% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It is ripe and delicious. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has black cherries, black olives, cigar box and spice. Full bodied with a lush texture. There is a nice depth with bold black cherry fruit over a nice earthiness. Good finish. This is just getting to full maturity but should easily go another decade. A nice match for lamb or other grilled meats.

Heidi Peterson Barrett: Napa's Wine Diva on Winemaking, La Sirena, and the Legacy of Screaming Eagle

Heidi Peterson Barrett As arguably the most celebrated, respected, envied, and in-demand winemaker in America today, Heidi Peterson Barrett is one of only a handful of winemakers who can legitimately lay claim to "superstar" status. Her wines at both Dalle Valle and Screaming Eagle resulted in multiple 100 point scores from Robert Parker (Parker himself dubbed her the "First Lady of Wine") and helped redefine both the meaning and value of "cult" wines. She rocked the wine world at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction as a 6-liter bottle of her 1992 Screaming Eagle sold for $500,000, in the process setting a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine (a vertical offering went for $650,000 at the 2001 Napa Valley Wine Auction). Heidi Peterson Barrett is currently winemaker for Amuse Bouche, Paradigm, Revana, Barbour, Lamborn, Fantesca, as well as her own label La Sirena . I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Heidi to talk about winemaking, her own La Sirena label, and the legacy of Screaming Eagle.

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Which California Cabernet Sauvignons Deserve "First Growth" Status?

In 1855, the Exposition Universelle was held in Paris to showcase all that was good in France. Emperor Napoleon III requested the leading Bordeaux merchants to rank the best wines . The top wines were rated as First Growths. Over the years, many people in the rest of the world have discussed what wines from their country would be First Growths. I am often asked what I think the First Growths of California are. It is an interesting conversation with lots of room for debate.

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2008 Jonata Winery El Desafio de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

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Top 50 California Cabernet Sauvignons to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

2006 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

2008 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Wine Review

Heidi Peterson Barrett: Napa's Wine Diva on Winemaking, La Sirena, and the Legacy of Screaming Eagle

Which California Cabernet Sauvignons Deserve "First Growth" Status?