Jonata Winery
El Desafio de Jonata Ballard Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Ynez Valley, Central Coast, California, USA
2021 vintage. Light-medium body but with more stuffing than encountered in the previous 6-7 vintages. Unanticipated frontal-palate richness. Expected, back-end, oomph without massive tannins. Pretty without being precious. Would love to throw this ringer in a Napa and/or BDX tasting. Phenomenal without the cloying weight of the usual suspects. Best Cabernet Sauvignon effort I’ve had from this winery. 01.29.25.
2021 vintage. Light-medium body but with more stuffing than encountered in the previous 6-7 vintages. Unanticipated frontal-palate richness. Expected, back-end, oomph without massive tannins. Pretty without being precious. Would love to throw this ringer in a Napa and/or BDX tasting. Phenomenal without the cloying weight of the usual suspects. Best Cabernet Sauvignon effort I’ve had from this winery. 01.29.25.
Jan 29th, 20252020 vintage. Light-medium body. 10.12.24.
2020 vintage. Light-medium body. 10.12.24.
Oct 13th, 2024Charcuterie night with my lovely wife!
Charcuterie night with my lovely wife!
Yes it was that good. Opened this for friends and it didn’t disappoint. Big Napa Cab like, but from Ballard Canyon. Chocolate notes. Dark fruit. Velvety mouthfeel. Everything you want and then some. Sadly my only bottle.
Yes it was that good. Opened this for friends and it didn’t disappoint. Big Napa Cab like, but from Ballard Canyon. Chocolate notes. Dark fruit. Velvety mouthfeel. Everything you want and then some. Sadly my only bottle.
Mar 20th, 20222017 vintage. No surprise that this is the best Ballard Canyon/SYV cab I've ever had. What is a surprise is that this is the best newer vintage California cab I've had this year. Throw this into your big gun Napa cab blind tasting and see where it ranks. May hafta reevaluate the California cab hierarchy.
2017 vintage. No surprise that this is the best Ballard Canyon/SYV cab I've ever had. What is a surprise is that this is the best newer vintage California cab I've had this year. Throw this into your big gun Napa cab blind tasting and see where it ranks. May hafta reevaluate the California cab hierarchy.
Nov 18th, 2021
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc - Feels more like a classy Bordeaux than a Cal Cab. Has the structure to age well over many years.
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc - Feels more like a classy Bordeaux than a Cal Cab. Has the structure to age well over many years.
Jul 3rd, 2021
