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2015 Jonata Fenix

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine storage unit; Purchased at retail

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

97Jeb Dunnuck

...probably the best vintage of this cuvee to date and is made from 47% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Currants, violets, plums, earth and licorice notes all give way to a ripe, sexy, incredibly polished Merlot that has building tannin. It's tour de force that needs 3-5 years of cellaring and will keep for two decades. (August 2017)

94Vinous / IWC

...super-expressive. Dark cherry, chocolate, menthol, licorice and spice notes all run through this racy, Ballard Canyon red. In 2015, the Fenix packs a serious punch. I would give it a few years to soften, despite the considerable allure it holds today. (September 2018)

93+ The Wine Advocate

The taut, generous full-bodied palate offers beautiful red and black fruit layers, framed by firm, velvety tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long.

PRODUCER

Jonata

Jonata is a small, relatively new producer in Santa Barbara County, on California’s Central Coast. It is owned by E. Stanley Kroenke. Kroenke also owns the original cult California producer, Screaming Eagle. Jonata is in the Santa Ynez appellation and it consists of 586 acres with 83 acres under cultivation. The winemaker is Matt Dees, a soil scientist with winemaking experience in Napa Valley and New Zealand. The estate produces Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and a Red Wine Vineyard Blend.

REGION

United States, California, South Coast, Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley

Santa Ynez Valley AVA is home to more wineries than any other area in Santa Barbara County. The appellation was established in 1983 and it includes a total of 76,800 acres, of which 1,500 acres are vineyards. Chardonnay is the dominant grape in this appellation, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. The appellation runs east and west with temperatures and microclimates changing significantly from warmer in the east to cool by the time the district gets close to the Pacific Ocean. In recent years Rhone-style wines have been successfully made here, and vineyards now are also planted to Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Mourvedre and Marsanne.