2007 La Flor de Jonata

Starting off with the La Flor de Jonata releases, which are normally a blend of two-thirds Sauvignon Blanc and one-third Semillon, the 2007 La Flor de Jonata is aging gracefully and offers up a perfumed, intense bouquet of flower oil, citrus blossom, mineral, lemon peel and crushed herbs as well as a supple, pure feel on the palate. Still lively and fresh, it should continue to age gracefully. Drink now-2017. 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