Jonata is a remarkable, relatively new winery north of Santa Barbara in Santa Ynez Valley under the same ownership as Napa Valley’s Screaming Eagle winery. Their Fenix is a Bordeaux-style blend of 40% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. It offers a vivid and polished nose showing aromas of black fruit, almond, and violets. The generous, full-bodied but focused palate offers luscious black fruit and spicy layers, with velvety tannins and lovely freshness paving the way to a lingering finish. Approachable now, this nevertheless has a good ten-plus years of graceful evolution ahead of it.
Joanta, Ballard Canyon (Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California) 2017
By Miranda Franco