2015 La Flor de Jonata
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Flor is pretty, with inviting notes of lemon confit and white flowers. In this tasting, the 2015 comes across as a bit simple. Soft contours give the 2015 considerable early appeal, but the verve and definition of the very best years is missing. To be fair, in this freakishly early-ripening vintage, nuance was not especially easy to come by.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Composed of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, the 2015 La Flor de Jonata is intensely scented of white peaches, guava and passionfruit with hints of cedar, struck match and musk perfume. It fills the medium-bodied palate with tons of tropical fruit flavors, supported with great freshness and a satiny texture, finishing with lingering cedar hints. It should age beautifully over the next four to six years.
Lemon, lychee, mint, flowers and loads of salty minerality all emerge from the 2015 Flor (80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon), and it's concentrated, rich and rounded on the palate. The acidity here is lower than in previous vintages, yet it has more concentration as well. Nevertheless, I would opt for drinking this over the coming 2-3 years. It’s always a fun tasting with winemaker Matt Dees and his team, and they continue to keep this estate at the top of the hierarchy in Santa Barbara County. Located in Ballard Canyon AVA, they pull only from their estate vineyard (planted on incredibly sandy soils) and make a wide range of cuvées, from a red and white Bordeaux blends, to a 100% Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and a number of terrific Rhône blends. The common thread is incredible quality.
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.