2008 El Alma de Jonata
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Tasting notes
The 2008 El Alma de Jonata is fully mature, wafting from the glass with a lavish bouquet of sweet berry fruit, fruit compote, marmalade, tobacco and dark chocolate that has nicely integrated its oak component. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained structuring tannins, becoming quite savory with age, its structure asserting itself more prominently on the finish as its first flush of primary fruit fades. Now's a good time to start pulling corks.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
(75% cabernet franc, 10% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 5% petit verdot): A perfumed, kaleidoscopic bouquet displays scents of dark berry preserves, vanilla, licorice pastille, cola and pipe tobacco, with an intense overlay of floral oils. Broad, fleshy and sweet, offering intense blackcurrant and blueberry flavors that stain the palate. The vanilla and spice notes build strongly through the very long, sappy, penetrating finish. Impressively energetic for such a rich wine, and the tannins are strikingly harmonious.
The 2008 El Alma de Jonata is dazzling. It possesses striking inner perfume, fresh, beautifully delineated fruit and world-class elegance. Layers of plush, dark fruit caress the palate in this pedigreed wine. The 80% new barrels is felt in the wine's breadth and richness, but there is enough fruit to handle the oak. In 2008 the blend is 75% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
About the producer
Jonata is amongst a handful of truly exciting wineries from Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara – a unique fine wine region of incredible versatility.