A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest an assortment of varieties, the 2008 El Desafio de Jonata shows more gamey, herb and spice as well as bright acidity, full-bodied power and a superb texture. Not quite at the level of the 2007, it’s nevertheless a brilliant Cabernet that will have 15+ years of longevity. Drink now-2023+. This was an incredible tasting with winemaker Matt Dees. This estate continues to produce some of the most impressive, long-lived wines in Santa Barbara. As I’ve learned from past tasting, it’s always best to schedule this appointment at the end of the day as these effort have no shortage of tannin and can wreak havoc on one’s palate. While I’ve routinely tasted the La Sangre de Jonata for a number of years now, it was great to be able to go back through past vintages of this estate’s other wines. In addition to these efforts bottled under the Jonata label, I was also able to taste their The Hilt and The Pairing releases, both of which are also reviewed in this report (and highly recommended). Tel. (805) 564-8581; www.jonata.com

The 2008 El Desafio de Jonata is layered with fresh, vibrant dark blackberries, blueberries, licorice, spices and leather. It shows marvelous intensity all the way through to the long, resonant finish. A blast of dark fruit, grilled herbs and cassis lingers on the close. In 2008 El Desafio de Jonata is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. General Manager Armand de Maigret, Assistant Winemaker Drew Pickering and Vineyard Manager Ruben Solorzano showed me a wide range of wines at Jonata. The estate is currently owned by investor Stan Kroenke. Matt Dees is Winemaker, while Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist. This large, sprawling estate in Ballard Canyon spans 600+ acres, 82 of which are under vine. Vintage 2008 was a colder year overall, with significant amounts of shatter and heat spikes towards the end of the growing season. The 2009s show more overt, fruit forward personalities. Both vintages are quite beautiful. I also tasted a number of older wines. With the exception of the Sangre, the wines appear to be aging at a fairly fast pace. Of course, drinking windows remain a highly personal aspect of wine appreciation, but readers who own the estate’s older vintages should be checking in on the wines periodically to chart their development. I don’t see too much upside potential from cellaring those wines, the 2005s and 2006s in particular, further. Accordingly I have kept drinking windows for the 2008s and 2009s relatively short. I will be thrilled if the wines end up exceeding my expectations, but at this stage only the Sangre appears to be a wine with medium and long-term aging potential.Tel. (805) 564-8581; www.jonata.com