2021 Jonata El Alma de Jonata Cabernet Franc Ballard Canyon Santa Ynez Valley

Tasting notes

Impenetrable black color. Swirls out of the glass with deep, dark fruit and green cooling herbs. Classic cassis and black olive. Fleeting notes of lavender. Remains tight today, but can be coaxed out of its shell with air. Sweet bramble and ripe black plum. Opens to a monstrous and mouthwatering texture with tremendous concentration and freshness. Firm high quality tannins frame the fruit. A texturally thrilling and structurally intimidating Alma. One to lay down for a few years as it evolves into a classic. — Matt Dees Winemaker

Vintage Notes

While I usually push for early enjoyment of our wines to capture their vibrant youth and energy, I'd strongly recommend laying the 2015 Desafio, Alma, Fuerza and
Tierra down for a number of years. They all contain so much of what makes 2015 superb:incredible generosity of fruit, remarkable concentration of flavors, lifted freshness and a structural integrity that seems to frame the fruit and finish for days. Thanks to this combination of energy and power, they could certainly use a few years to evolve and stretch out. See if you can find a spot for them in your cellar…
In the meantime, there is so much immediate pleasure in the 2015 Sangre, Fenix and Todos, though they too will blossom to become so much more complete with some additional time. They offer an earlier window through which to enjoy and understand what a fantastic vintage we experienced in 2015! — Matt Dees Winemaker

Vinification

80% new French oak, 20% neutral French oak