Jonata La Sangre de Jonata 2005 | Spectacular with Long Life thru 2030+
Jonata La Sangre de Jonata 2005 presents deep inky black in color. Vast aromas of meadow flowers, dried rosemary, charred lamb, and incense. Intense palate with fresh acidity, fine tannins, and full body, with garrigue, game, and blackberries. Drinking in its prime but with plenty of life still to come. Drink now-2030.
96JD | A spectacular wine that has a long life ahead of it, the Jonata La Sangre de Jonata 2005 strikes a perfect balance between ripe, decadent fruit, and firm, edgy underlying structure. First, the wine shows loads of cassis and assorted dark fruits that are intermixed with coffee, charcoal, and grilled meat nuances on the nose. Full-bodied and stunningly textured. Yet this still needs an additional 3 to 5 years in the cellar to let the tannins flesh out. A classic example of California Syrah!
Winemaker Matt Dees & Jonata
Since founding JONATA in 1999, the owners of Screaming Eagle have demonstrated the same commitment to the land in Ballard Canyon as they have in Oakville. From the outset, they spared no expense. Initially evaluating the potential for growing world-class wines, calling in an “A-Team” from France to conduct soil samples. After the report was produced, the proprietor pushed ahead with selecting 80 of the almost 600 acres for the planting of Rhône and Bordeaux varieties. When Matt Dees arrived in 2004 he took one look at the unique potential of JONATA’s sandy soil. Then another look at how much the owners had already poured into their Oakville winery. And of course, he then signed on the dotted line.
More Accolades for La Sangre | Extraordinary density & richness
From the moment the owners of Screaming Eagle founded JONATA, all eyes were on the pioneering Ballard Canyon estate and winemaker Matt Dees — protégé of Michel Rolland and Andy Erickson. With the 2005 bottling, their second vintage helped put the estate, Ballard Canyon, and the entire Santa Ynez Valley on the map. Of course, Jeb Dunnuck, a former reviewer for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, was in awe. And, subsequently awarding the 2005 La Sangre a glowing 96 points. Hence calling it “a spectacular wine,” “full-bodied and stunningly textured. Most of all, Parker himself loved its “extraordinary density, richness. And Antonio Galloni was reminded of a “big-ticket, single-site Chapoutier Hermitage.
Explore today’s finds at Wine Access
So, we’re blown away by everything the 2005 La Sangre has to offer. The elegant floral lift of the best wines from the Côte-Rôtie is there. As is the expansive depth of best of Hermitage. But unlike a bottle of Chapoutier, which could easily set you back $400, this wine actually over-delivers for its price. As Robert Parker wrote of the JONATA 2005’s, “Fasten your seatbelts as these wines will give purchasers a serious ride for their money!”
