Jonata 2022 El Desafio Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Ballard Canyon Santa Ynez 97 Points

Winemaker Notes: “Dried strawberry, fig, clove, and cassis. Dramatic and sensual nose. Poignant and beautifully chiseled cabernet. So, inviting. Intensely fruit-laden and ultra-concentrated. Layered and multi-dimensional structure. Broad and tall. Statuesque finish with a high quantity of ultra-fine, quality tannins. Classic Desafio notes of mint, dark chocolate, and lavender. Core of Luxardo cherry. Herbal and cooling. A loud and proud voice, but also still relatively calm and elegant, with stunning balance between fruit, freshness, and tannin. This will be a wine that brings pleasure for decades to come, but I love it today for its exuberance and indefatigable charm. ”

Vinous 97 Points: “The 2022 El Desafio de Jonata is another seriously beautiful, vivid wine from Jonata. Vibrant red-toned fruit, spice, cedar, tobacco, and orange peel all open in the bouquet. On the palate, the 2022 is quite a bit more reticent. That’s probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. I would not plan on opening a bottle anytime soon. ”

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated release from this team, the 2022 El Desafio De Jonata is based on 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot brought up all in French oak. Its deep ruby hue is followed by a perfumed nose of red, blue, and black fruits as well as spring flowers, spicy oak, and leafy herbs. A more medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant expression of the cuvée, it has terrific balance, fine, polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s already hard to resist yet should have 15+ years of overall longevity. “