2014 Jonata Winery El Alma de Jonata, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

Jonata makes some great wines, and while they can be a bit pricey, they would likely be a lot more if they were from Napa and not Santa Barbara. This is a blend of 88% Cabernet Franc, 10% cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color with some garnet hues, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose.  Black cherries, tobacco, leather and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is ripe (no green bell peppers) but not overblown at all.  Depth.

2007 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I usually drink these young and let the other wines from Jonata age, but I managed to keep this one and it was worth it.  This is a blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Viognier, 3% Sangiovese, and 2% Grenache.  Purple in color with ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, cherries, black cherries, char, floral notes and spice.  Full bodied.  Silky tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty with nice varietal complexity.  This seems like it should be at peak but shows no sign of older age.  Black raspb

2016 Beckmen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a nice value in Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with cassis, slight vanilla, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is a nice easy drinking Cab.  Cassis and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  Drink over the next few years.  A nice with with a (veggie) burger.  

2018 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Ballard Canyon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Jonata makes some spectacular wine that also have spectacular prices.  Todos (which means all in Spanish) is the blend of the rest of the wines that didn't get bottled individually and it is an excellent wine at a more down to earth price.  This vintage it is a blend of 45% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Verdot, 9% Petit Sirah, 5% Merlot, and the rest an assorted 6%.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, chocolate, black cherries, gravel and cassis.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It may get better but wit

2016 Brave & Maiden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Limited, USA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This drinks like a cooler climate Cab.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, dark chocolate, slight rosemary and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with a bit of chocolate.  This drinks easy.  it is young and may improve a bit with time.  It should drink well for ten to twelve years.  A nice wine with roast beef.  

2016 Jonata Winery Todos, USA, California, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is the base wine for this winery.  It seems to be a blend of the barrels that didn't make the grade of single varietal releases.  Todos means all.  That doesn't make it a bad wine by any means.  In fact, this is an outstanding wine and excellent value compared to those single varietal wines.  it is a blend 60% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, with the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier.

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

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
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.  

2016 Refugio Ranch Petite Sirah, USA, California, Santa Ynez Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

Petite Sirah is a very interesting grape.  Some wines are made to be consumed young but most need a little to a long time.  This one is not quite there but almost.  It is a grape that might be better suited to blending although its fans are strong (of which I am one).  The flavors are deep and intense but not boisterous.  This one is deep purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, slight plums, dark chocolate and tarragon.  With air, a bit of black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  The boysenberries and plums come thru with an underlying gravelly note.  Nice balance.  It re

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