Varietally typical hints of bell pepper and mint, but wrapped in a delicate structure. Usually that's a minus for me, but it was framed pretty well and really faded into the background after an hour to two of air. Went well w/ steak and on its own.
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IMW - Cab / Cab Franc Panel Tasting 2018 (Hyatt, San Francisco): 84% cab, the rest cab franc, merlot, petit verdot. Deep ruby color. Very ripe blackcurrant - speaks of the sun, has just a hint of raisination. A slight stewed-capsicum pyrazines. Well-integrated oak spice (nutmeg, banana bread crust, gingerbread). Rich on the palate, full-bodied with high alcohol (feels 15%), medium acid, medium plus tannins. Excellent mid-palate concentration and integration. Long finish. Excellent example of ripe Cab, but not as structured as I'd like. ~60% new French barrique.
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MW 2017 SIT DOWN CABERNET FRANC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING WITH MATT WEIS. Blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Nose of sweet fruit, dark fruit, hints of bell pepper, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, needs 2 years to peak, and a medium/long finish.
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Decanted at a restaurant. Perfect cork. Slightly muted nose of ripe red and black fruit, and a hint of beef blood/iron. The dark cherry fruit was still pronounced, although not as lush as this vintage was a year or two ago. Now there was a very spicy/black pepper note that dominated the mid-palate and made for an extremely interesting and enjoyable wine. The tannins were still noticeable, and as a result the finish was very lengthy, possibly 30 seconds or more. Based upon this bottle, I'd estimate this El Desafio vintage still has several more years of life for those who still have some. Went extremely well with grilled steak. Recommended.
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In a great place right now. Not at peak but getting there. Purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, cigar tobacco, slight black pepper and bit of cherries. On the palate, this has a great lush texture. some tannins. Plenty of dark cherry fruit intertwined with a bit of forest floor. Nice finish. Food friendly. Tight layering. Lovely wine.
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Out with friends (Scarecrow, Jonata, 7 Stones, Kutch, Rhys, Baumard) (University Circle): This had been opened and allowed to breathe for a few hours before pouring. A beautiful wine and on another night, it might have stolen the show. Tonight, it brought up the rear. We are lucky people. The nose has black raspberries, a bit of roasted meat and roaster herbs, cassis and spice. Very nice. More earthy than big fruit. On the palate, this is entering a nice maturity although it still has a long life left. Nice texture. Cassis and blueberries although that roasted meat streak continues. Deep layering unwinds in the glass. Good finish. Worked well with food especially a roasted eggplant and butternut squash dish.
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Sweet and almost jammy. Extremely fragrant. Wait for about 30 minutes to let the initial alcohol to blow off. It will then be a beauty. At its peak and enjoy it in the next year or so. Do not see this one for the cellar though.
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A beaut. Rich, wonderful texture, lengthy, unique, just barely entering its time. Has a decade and likely beyond. The skills of the winemaker are very clearly apparent and the terroir speaks here. Got to find more
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This is a good wine which is kind of unique. I'm not sure its price is justified but I do like it. I'm somewhat amazed that these guys can get this type of flavor from Santa Ynez where nearly everyone produces a limestone syrah/grenache wine. The Jonata wine is nothing like that. The '08 is almost sweet. Not in a bad way. I liked it the best between the second and third hour after opening. I don't know that this will improve or change much from this point forward. Drink now or in the next couple years.
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No official notes taken. But comparing to the first bottle I had more than a year ago, apparently this one has evolved quite a bit. Nose was perfumed and complex. Sophisticated palate shows the efforts. Excellent
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One of the flagship wines of the new formed winery and a worthy effort. The top Jonata wine in our recent Four Horsemen Eat Jonata wine tasting. A masterful blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. Like many of their other offering, there is beautiful dark fruit on the nose and initially on the pallet. There is more complexity here, more oak and leather notes, but not quite together harmoniously as you'd expect in a blockbuster. The mid pallet is not hollow, but not as full either and is lacks some of the excitement we'd like to see from top tier wines. There is intrigue there and the complexity grabs you in subtle ways, drawing you in to a long complicated finish with pleasant tastes in many dimensions. A solid wine.
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From a Left Bank Bordeaux blend that is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the perfume offers scents of sweet oak, vanilla, licorice, blackberry jam and minerality. Lush, round and packed with dense, ripe, juicy fruit, this rich, opulent wine ends with a long, chocolate covered, cherry finish.
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3/24/2019 - gkrueger Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really awesome after decanting for a couple of hours! Delicious������
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8/17/2018 - gresch Likes this wine: 92 Points
Varietally typical hints of bell pepper and mint, but wrapped in a delicate structure. Usually that's a minus for me, but it was framed pretty well and really faded into the background after an hour to two of air. Went well w/ steak and on its own.
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12/8/2017 - TomOfCT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Continuing to drink well. I'd probably have sooner than later.
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10/30/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 87 Points
IMW - Cab / Cab Franc Panel Tasting 2018 (Hyatt, San Francisco): 84% cab, the rest cab franc, merlot, petit verdot.
Deep ruby color. Very ripe blackcurrant - speaks of the sun, has just a hint of raisination. A slight stewed-capsicum pyrazines. Well-integrated oak spice (nutmeg, banana bread crust, gingerbread). Rich on the palate, full-bodied with high alcohol (feels 15%), medium acid, medium plus tannins. Excellent mid-palate concentration and integration. Long finish. Excellent example of ripe Cab, but not as structured as I'd like.
~60% new French barrique.
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10/30/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
MW 2017 SIT DOWN CABERNET FRANC/CABERNET SAUVIGNON TASTING WITH MATT WEIS. Blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Nose of sweet fruit, dark fruit, hints of bell pepper, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, needs 2 years to peak, and a medium/long finish.
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10/18/2017 - aidyl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted at a restaurant. Perfect cork. Slightly muted nose of ripe red and black fruit, and a hint of beef blood/iron. The dark cherry fruit was still pronounced, although not as lush as this vintage was a year or two ago. Now there was a very spicy/black pepper note that dominated the mid-palate and made for an extremely interesting and enjoyable wine. The tannins were still noticeable, and as a result the finish was very lengthy, possibly 30 seconds or more. Based upon this bottle, I'd estimate this El Desafio vintage still has several more years of life for those who still have some. Went extremely well with grilled steak. Recommended.
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8/14/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
In a great place right now. Not at peak but getting there. Purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, cigar tobacco, slight black pepper and bit of cherries. On the palate, this has a great lush texture. some tannins. Plenty of dark cherry fruit intertwined with a bit of forest floor. Nice finish. Food friendly. Tight layering. Lovely wine.
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11/19/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
Out with friends (Scarecrow, Jonata, 7 Stones, Kutch, Rhys, Baumard) (University Circle): This had been opened and allowed to breathe for a few hours before pouring. A beautiful wine and on another night, it might have stolen the show. Tonight, it brought up the rear. We are lucky people. The nose has black raspberries, a bit of roasted meat and roaster herbs, cassis and spice. Very nice. More earthy than big fruit. On the palate, this is entering a nice maturity although it still has a long life left. Nice texture. Cassis and blueberries although that roasted meat streak continues. Deep layering unwinds in the glass. Good finish. Worked well with food especially a roasted eggplant and butternut squash dish.
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10/23/2015 - EricLi wrote: 93 Points
Sweet and almost jammy. Extremely fragrant. Wait for about 30 minutes to let the initial alcohol to blow off. It will then be a beauty. At its peak and enjoy it in the next year or so. Do not see this one for the cellar though.
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3/8/2015 - capacious Likes this wine: 94 Points
A beaut. Rich, wonderful texture, lengthy, unique, just barely entering its time. Has a decade and likely beyond. The skills of the winemaker are very clearly apparent and the terroir speaks here. Got to find more
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1/27/2015 - whybuyone Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a good wine which is kind of unique. I'm not sure its price is justified but I do like it. I'm somewhat amazed that these guys can get this type of flavor from Santa Ynez where nearly everyone produces a limestone syrah/grenache wine. The Jonata wine is nothing like that. The '08 is almost sweet. Not in a bad way. I liked it the best between the second and third hour after opening. I don't know that this will improve or change much from this point forward. Drink now or in the next couple years.
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8/24/2014 - EricLi Likes this wine: 92 Points
No official notes taken. But comparing to the first bottle I had more than a year ago, apparently this one has evolved quite a bit. Nose was perfumed and complex. Sophisticated palate shows the efforts. Excellent
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1/28/2013 - JJamba Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the flagship wines of the new formed winery and a worthy effort. The top Jonata wine in our recent Four Horsemen Eat Jonata wine tasting. A masterful blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. Like many of their other offering, there is beautiful dark fruit on the nose and initially on the pallet. There is more complexity here, more oak and leather notes, but not quite together harmoniously as you'd expect in a blockbuster. The mid pallet is not hollow, but not as full either and is lacks some of the excitement we'd like to see from top tier wines. There is intrigue there and the complexity grabs you in subtle ways, drawing you in to a long complicated finish with pleasant tastes in many dimensions. A solid wine.
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4/16/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Tenzing Portfolio Tasting (Tenzing - Chicago, IL): Rocky, blackberries, cassis lead and iron. Big boy but nice black qualities with good acidity on the back end.
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7/31/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
From a Left Bank Bordeaux blend that is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the perfume offers scents of sweet oak, vanilla, licorice, blackberry jam and minerality. Lush, round and packed with dense, ripe, juicy fruit, this rich, opulent wine ends with a long, chocolate covered, cherry finish.
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