2009 La Flor de Jonata
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Tasting notes
Along the same lines, the 2009 La Flor de Jonata sports an exotic profile with lychee, citrus blossom and tropical notes to go with a rich, full palate. Showing gorgeous fruit and the richness of the vintage, it stays clean, pure and oh so drinkable. Drink now-2019. This was an incredible tasting with winemaker Matt Dees. This estate continues to produce some of the most impressive, long-lived wines in Santa Barbara. As I’ve learned from past tasting, it’s always best to schedule this appointment at the end of the day as these effort have no shortage of tannin and can wreak havoc on one’s palate. While I’ve routinely tasted the La Sangre de Jonata for a number of years now, it was great to be able to go back through past vintages of this estate’s other wines. In addition to these efforts bottled under the Jonata label, I was also able to taste their The Hilt and The Pairing releases, both of which are also reviewed in this report (and highly recommended). Tel. (805) 564-8581; www.jonata.com
Critic scores
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(67% sauvignon blanc and 33% semillon): Pale yellow. Deep, powerful aromas of pear skin, melon, green almond and smoky lees, with a bright mineral topnote. At once rich and energetic, offering zesty lemon pith and orchard fruit flavors complicated by anise and honeysuckle. Closes on a refreshingly bitter note, with strong thrust and lingering citrus and herbal character.
The 2009 Flor is a big white layered with flowers, honey, apricots and nectarines. Despite its considerable richness, the 2009 comes across as very tightly wound and in need of another year to settle down. The bottle I tasted was initially quite reduced, but improved markedly with air, so readers will need to open this well in advance. The 2009 is 67% Sauvignon Blanc and 33% Semillon.
(68% sauvignon blanc and 32% semillon): Bright, green-tinged gold. Ripe, highly expressive aromas of powerful, smoke-accented peach, quince and floral honey, lifted by anise and dusty minerals. Dried pit fruits and poached pear on the palate, with a late jolt of bitter lemon zest adding energy. Finishes spicy and focused, leaving behind notes of honey and candied citrus fruits.
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.