2021 Jonata "La Sangre de Jonata" Ballard Canyon Syrah

A huge, tight and concentrated wine with oodles of black fruit, graphite, wood char and dried blueberry flavors. Firm tannins wrap up cocoa, blackberry and espresso on the palate. Drink or hold. (JG)

One of the most wound-up wines in the range yet also one of the most generous, the 2021 La Sangre de Jonata is one of the more concentrated, decadent wines produced in Santa Barbara County but manages impressive balance and nuance. The nose is opaque and concentrated, but it displays lifted herbal and floral accents that form around a meaty, grilled core. The palate is remarkably plush yet palpably tight, initially only showing a shell of the power contained within. The finish is dramatic in its sturdy, slow-moving nature and admirably doesn't give away the game at the outset, instead continuing to swell in the glass dynamically. The tannin profile is quite chewy yet balanced by ripe, lush fruit flavors that linger with substantial length. It's a blend of 95% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and 1% Viognier. (ML)