Good stuff, my first from the producer. A little less powerful and outright delicious than I expected for some reason, but still plenty powerful and delicious. It's really striking how much the small percentage of Petite Sirah seems to show; there's a distinctly jammy, super black fruit note that permeates through the whole wine, sort of like warm blackberry compote, very tasty, but leaving very little room for anything else. There is definitely balance here, it's not overly hot and there's some faint trace of savory/peppery tones to lend a little nuance. It's just mostly a gentle, "cool" version of a big dark jammy fruit bomb. Thinking about similarly-priced wines from the region, I had a better experience with a Stolpman Hilltops Syrah- still, this was really tasty and fun. Worth the price, just not a QPR monster.
A great find on an otherwise expensive wine list in Aspen , CO. My first Jonata. A great blend of syrah, CS, PV and petite sirah. Inky purple, red and black fruits on the nose, smoked bacon, all of which follow on the rich, full bodied palate. The petite sirah really shines on the backend with great pepper, smoked meats on the finish. At first, I thought it was Grenache, but the depth of flavor and boldness definitely point towards petite sirah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
20 People Bring a Bottle (Good, The Bad & The Ugly) (Edina, MN): Now thank you for saving the red wines at this tasting. This is what a red blend should taste like not some over the top sweet, manufactured garbage. This is nice with pepper, spice, blackberries, raspberries, floral and earth. Medium plus finish. Amazing a half of bottle was left when I left as other than the 2 BV's and a few Pinots by far the best wine in the red category.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose does kinda lead with Syrah and Petite Verdot as well. Maybe just a little touch green there? Maybe a little touch corky? Not corky on the palate though. Dense and complicated there on the palate. Not quite harmonious yet, my palate says it needs some time. Lots of length on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very good but ultimately still too sweet and lacking in acidity as is the case with most of these style wines. That said good drying tannin and just enough backbone. Also too young but that is my fault.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear deep ruby; clean medium plus nose of barnyard, cassis and garrigue; dry; high acidity; medium tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of cocoa; medium plus finish; drink now or in a few years; blinded as a meh southern Rhone GSM; a little disappointing - not as intense or complex as the 2016 - or perhaps an off bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Most co-fermented wines that I see from California today tend toward the crunchy, bright, high-toned side of the spectrum. This is something else entirely. A wine much more inspired by the Saint-Joseph/Cote Rotie tradition of co-ferments than the above chuggable/crushable style.
Just a hint of reductivity. Over ripe raspberries, blackberries, black cherries. Caramel, smoked meat, new leather, black pepper. While the fruit is big; it stops just shy of being jammy and thank God for that. High intensity of aromas, though on the palate it's more subtle. Full bodied with medium tannin and medium acid.
Can drink now; but will age 2-5 years more as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/13/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Shows more purple and blue fruit, less savory notes than the coming 2019. I think it needs a bit more time to develop and fully show it self.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2024 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good stuff, my first from the producer. A little less powerful and outright delicious than I expected for some reason, but still plenty powerful and delicious. It's really striking how much the small percentage of Petite Sirah seems to show; there's a distinctly jammy, super black fruit note that permeates through the whole wine, sort of like warm blackberry compote, very tasty, but leaving very little room for anything else. There is definitely balance here, it's not overly hot and there's some faint trace of savory/peppery tones to lend a little nuance. It's just mostly a gentle, "cool" version of a big dark jammy fruit bomb. Thinking about similarly-priced wines from the region, I had a better experience with a Stolpman Hilltops Syrah- still, this was really tasty and fun. Worth the price, just not a QPR monster.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/1/2024 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Similar to my last note, but slightly lower score (still good, just a little less wow factor)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Lots of complexity here - dark fruit herb, savory on the mid palate, lush but with taught minerality to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2024 - Jjarriel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great bottle. Could benefit from a decant but wouldn’t expect it to open up too much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2023 - wiscgrad wrote: 92 Points
needed a good 1+ hour in the decanter to get going and shake off the funk and fill out on the palate. solid kitchen sink blend and ready to drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Red fruit, bright and focused.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Kinda tastes like a kitchen sink wine, and whatyaknow, it is a kitchen sink wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2023 - Franken Berry Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great find on an otherwise expensive wine list in Aspen
, CO. My first Jonata. A great blend of syrah, CS, PV and petite sirah. Inky purple, red and black fruits on the nose, smoked bacon, all of which follow on the rich, full bodied palate. The petite sirah really shines on the backend with great pepper, smoked meats on the finish. At first, I thought it was Grenache, but the depth of flavor and boldness definitely point towards petite sirah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2023 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yes this is not subtle and refined, it just tastes really really good (esp w bbq ribs)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2023 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very enjoyable and approachable blend. Great upfront blue and black fruit
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2023 - HanSchlamppo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Balanced. Earthy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
20 People Bring a Bottle (Good, The Bad & The Ugly) (Edina, MN): Now thank you for saving the red wines at this tasting. This is what a red blend should taste like not some over the top sweet, manufactured garbage. This is nice with pepper, spice, blackberries, raspberries, floral and earth. Medium plus finish. Amazing a half of bottle was left when I left as other than the 2 BV's and a few Pinots by far the best wine in the red category.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Smelling quite fine indeed. And with really good structure to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Nothing not to like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2023 - DfwCabLover Likes this wine: 91 Points
I recently had the 09 Todos which was amazing. Got this bottle to compare. It certainly needs more age, but it has a nice balance to start.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
The nose does kinda lead with Syrah and Petite Verdot as well. Maybe just a little touch green there? Maybe a little touch corky? Not corky on the palate though. Dense and complicated there on the palate. Not quite harmonious yet, my palate says it needs some time. Lots of length on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2023 - Joelene wrote: 90 Points
Very good but ultimately still too sweet and lacking in acidity as is the case with most of these style wines. That said good drying tannin and just enough backbone. Also too young but that is my fault.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2023 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clear deep ruby; clean medium plus nose of barnyard, cassis and garrigue; dry; high acidity; medium tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of cocoa; medium plus finish; drink now or in a few years; blinded as a meh southern Rhone GSM; a little disappointing - not as intense or complex as the 2016 - or perhaps an off bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2022 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Most co-fermented wines that I see from California today tend toward the crunchy, bright, high-toned side of the spectrum. This is something else entirely. A wine much more inspired by the Saint-Joseph/Cote Rotie tradition of co-ferments than the above chuggable/crushable style.
Just a hint of reductivity. Over ripe raspberries, blackberries, black cherries. Caramel, smoked meat, new leather, black pepper. While the fruit is big; it stops just shy of being jammy and thank God for that. High intensity of aromas, though on the palate it's more subtle. Full bodied with medium tannin and medium acid.
Can drink now; but will age 2-5 years more as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2022 - Jeff Stewart Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lots of tannins and medium plus acidity. Full bodied and lingers on the palette. Has a lot of life left and can wait a few years to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2022 - BHull Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking great early
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2021 - Gnieboer Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is consistently one of my favorite wines. A cool climate syrah with plenty of savory punch to it, dark fruit, good tannin structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment