Jonata "Fenix" Right Bank Bordeaux Style Blend 2020
(Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley, California) - [VM 96-98] [JD 94-96+] [DM 94]

About the Winery:
The Jonata winery takes its name from the 1845 Spanish land grant, Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, as well as the Chumash word for “live oak” or “tall oak.” The Estate vineyard was planted in 2000 in the Southwest corner of what would become the Ballard Canyon Appellation in 2013. The terroir of Jonata property is unique to this site, comprised of eight hundred feet deep Careaga sands. These sands are extremely calcareous, retain almost no water and are virtually devoid of nutrients. In fact, these soils are so poor and the site so unique that the property was thought to be unfit for grape growing.

In 'desafio' (defiance) of this conception, vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano hedged his bets and planted the eighty acres of vineyards to a potpourri of different grape varietals. The original planting was made with Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Syrah and, more recently, Grenache and Viognier — the Grenache was later ripped out and replaced with Petit Syrah. Today there are only twenty acres of Cabernet Franc and nine acres of Merlot in the entire Ballard Canyon Appellation, so to say that Jonata was bucking the trends would be an understatement to say the least!

About this Wine:
Packed with black fruit, mint and notes of fresh turned soil. Incense and iodine. Texturally this wine is unmatched in the stable of JONATA red wines. It absolutely covers the entire palate with joyous and vibrant dark and dense fruit. It has to be tasted to be believed. It saturates with the power of its fruit, but then remains buoyant and lifted by freshness and energy. It is naturally rich, but never over the top or flamboyant. Notes of graphite, dark chocolate and espresso bean. It finishes up with lift and vibrancy, forgiving tannins and dusty black fruit. In 2020, the merlot again makes a strong claim to be the finest red grape on the property. At 96% merlot, this is its loudest statement to date. Enjoy this beauty tonight or put in the cellar and revisit in a few years to witness and enjoy its evolution. - Matt Dees, Winemaker

96% merlot (cl. 181, 314), 4% cabernet sauvignon (cl. 4, 337)

775 Cases Produced

14.1% Alc

60% new French oak, 40% twice used French oak (225L)

Ratings & Reviews

96-98 Points - Vinous Media:
“The 2020 Fenix, nearly all Merlot for the very first time, is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Jonata. Dark, rich and bursting with pure unbridled energy, the Fenix is shaping up to be tremendous. Black cherry, licorice, chocolate and new leather saturate the palate. The 2020 is so impressive. I tasted it from tank just prior to bottling.” – Antonio Galloni (Aug 2022)

94-96+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
“Scheduled to be bottled shortly after this tasting, the 2020 Fenix sports a deep purple hue to go with a rocking bouquet of blueberries, ripe cherries, scorched earth, chocolate, and graphite. This plump, full-bodied, plush, sexy Merlot has great tannins, no hard edges, and outstanding length.” (Aug 2022)

94 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Aromatics of blueberries, potpourri, spiced plums, and baking spices leap from the glass, as well as this generous Merlot from Ballard Canyon and the sandy soils of the Jonata estate vineyards. The palate is polished, and cloves and smoke introduce savoury notes of lavender, mint, and dusty gravel minerality. Tangy blackberries mark blue and black fruits, smoky minerals, turned earth and hot embers all come together beautifully. This wine will continue to evolve and retain a gorgeous elegance and balance." -CP (1/24)