Jonata El Alma de Jonata 2012 / 750 ml.

Item#: 82041

RP96+96+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Aug 2015
California’s Cheval Blanc (or maybe Le Dome is a better comparison), the Cabernet Franc dominated 2012 El Alma de Jonata incorporates 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot and is brought up in 80% new French oak. It has an incredible bouquet of tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings, sweet currants, crushed rock and violets that come screaming from the glass. This is followed by a full-bodied red that shows a sensational purity of fruit, a full, layered mid-palate and building structure and tannic grip. While it’s not an outright powerhouse, it certainly doesn’t lack for concentration or depth. Give it 4–5 years and drink it over the following two decades.
VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Aug 2015
The 2012 El Alma de Jonata has gained considerable power and structure since I last tasted it a year ago. An exotic, alluring melange of mocha, espresso, raspberry jam and wild flowers proves to be totally captivating. The Cabernet Franc character really screams out in the 2012. Ideally, readers should give the 2012 a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften, but it is impressive, even today. The 2012 was aged in French oak, 80% new.

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Red Wine

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc | All Grapes: 72% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot

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United States | California | Central Coast | Santa Ynez Valley

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Critical Acclaim

RP96+ 96+ pts. / Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (27th Aug 2015)

California’s Cheval Blanc (or maybe Le Dome is a better comparison), the Cabernet Franc dominated 2012 El Alma de Jonata incorporates 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot and is brought up in 80% new French oak. It has an incredible bouquet of tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings, sweet currants, crushed rock and violets that come screaming from the glass. This is followed by a full-bodied red that shows a sensational purity of fruit, a full, layered mid-palate and building structure and tannic grip. While it’s not an outright powerhouse, it certainly doesn’t lack for concentration or depth. Give it 4–5 years and drink it over the following two decades.

VN95 95 pts. / Vinous (Aug 2015)

The 2012 El Alma de Jonata has gained considerable power and structure since I last tasted it a year ago. An exotic, alluring melange of mocha, espresso, raspberry jam and wild flowers proves to be totally captivating. The Cabernet Franc character really screams out in the 2012. Ideally, readers should give the 2012 a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften, but it is impressive, even today. The 2012 was aged in French oak, 80% new.

Where It's From

Region / California

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When it comes to US wine production, California is King. California wines account for almost 90% of all wines produced in the United States each year, and is home to the most celebrated vineyards and producers in the country. California is probably best known for its world-famous Cabernets and Chardonnays, many of which hail from its two most-acclaimed AVAs, Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Other prominent grapes used in California wines include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel (which California made popular).

Country / United States

View more wines from United States

The United States now ranks fourth in the world in wine production behind, France, Italy, and Spain. While about 90% of that wine is produced in California, other states like Oregon, New York, and Washington are establishing themselves as prime spots for wine production, as well. Just about any variety of wine can be found in production somewhere in the United States.

More Information

SKU 82041
Product Type Wine
Alternate Name Jonata El Alma de Jonata
Country United States
Region California
District Central Coast
Product Location - Location-Appellation Santa Ynez Valley
Package Size 750 ml.
Wine/Spirit Brand Jonata
Bottles per Case 12
Vintage 2012
Can it Be Shipped Yes
Premier Pick No
Wine Type Table Wine
Wine - Color Red
Grape(s) 72% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot
Primary Grape Cabernet Franc
Dollar Sale (Y/N) No
Same Region, Same Vintage, Same Grape
Verite Le Desir 2012 / 750 ml.
Verite Le Desir 2012 / 750 ml.

2012 / 750 ml.

Item #: 82340

RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Oct 2015
The 2012 Le Desir (64% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Malbec) reminds me of a young vintage of Ausone, such as 2005. The wine has amazing minerality and an explosive blueberry nose intermixed with blackberries, new saddle leather, charcoal and camphor. It is full-bodied, with espresso notes emerging on the palate. There are 1,900 cases of this super-endowed, prodigious wine that should drink well for 35–40 years. How fun it would be for mega-millionaires to put this in a blind tasting of a great vintage of Ausone in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
ST95+95–98 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - May/Jun 2014
Bright, deep ruby. Seriously dark aromas of cassis, violet, bitter chocolate and espresso. Hugely rich and ripe but with uncanny energy and definition to the flavors of black raspberry and musky bitter chocolate. This has the density of a top vintage of Chateau Ausone. Finishes with a boatload of ripe tannins that are buffered by the wine’s palate-staining fruit. Another monument in the making.
VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2016
The 2012 Le Désir is striking. It is also the richest and most powerful of the Vérité 2012s. An exotic, alluring bouquet melds into layers of dark red fruit as this ample, voluptuous wine shows off its personality. The 2012 simply oozes with Cabernet Franc floral and spice notes. Although the 2012 is quite expressive today, it will be even better with more time. Over the last few years the Désir has clearly emerged as Vérité’s top wine. Today, it is absolutely gorgeous, although it needs time to be at its best.
VN94+94–96 pts. - Vinous - Jan 2015
The Cabernet Franc-based 2012 Le Désir is the most aromatic and nuanced of these three 2012s. Savory herbs, mocha and spices meld into a core of punchy pomegranate and red stone fruit in a wine that is both silky and powerful. Here, too, readers can look forward to a long drinking window that will last two decades or so. In 2012, Le Désir is all about finesse.
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United States | California | Sonoma County

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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10 items or less in stock.

Compare at $449.99 $299.99

You save:$150.00 (33%)

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Jonata El Alma de Jonata 2011 / 750 ml.
Jonata El Alma de Jonata 2011 / 750 ml.

2011 / 750 ml.

Item #: 81370

RP9696 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 28th Aug 2013
While there was no El Almas produced in 2010 due to late rains, the 2011 El Alma de Jonata is beautiful. Most similar to the 2008, with pure, pretty notes of wild herbs, dark chocolate, tobacco, crushed flowers and currants, it flows onto the palate with beautiful freshness and purity, big richness and a great finish. Give it another couple of years and enjoy it through 2026. Drink 2015–2026.
VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Jul 2014
The Cabernet Franc-based El Alma de Jonata is magnificent in 2011. Violets, savory herbs, mint, plum and black cherries burst from the glass in an explosive, deeply varietal wine loaded with class, pedigree and elegance. Cabernet Franc notes take on greater prominence as the Alma opens up in the glass. This is one of the best wines that have come off this property. A second bottle that had been opened 24 hours before this tasting was positively explosive.
ST9393 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Nov/Dec 2014
Glass-staining ruby. Heady scents of black and blue fruit preserves, potpourri and candied licorice, with sexy Asian spice and mint nuances in the background. Sweet, high-pitched and sharply delineated, showing excellent depth and clarity to the blackcurrant, mineral and floral pastille flavors. Finishes long and smoky, with supple tannins and an echoing floral pastille note.
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United States | California | Central Coast | Santa Ynez Valley

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Franc

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1 items or less in stock.

Compare at $159.99 $127.99

You save:$32.00 (20%)

Jonata El Desafio de Jonata 2012 / 750 ml.
Jonata El Desafio de Jonata 2012 / 750 ml.

2012 / 750 ml.

Item #: 82042

RP9595 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Aug 2015
Probably the longest-lived wine in the vintage from Santa Barbara, Jonata’s 630-case 2012 El Desafio de Jonata checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot that saw 80% new French oak. It reveals a masculine, meaty, structured personality as well as rockin’ notes of blackcurrants, wood smoke, lead pencil shavings and crushed rock. Full-bodied, balanced and with building tannic grip, it still shows the suppleness of the vintage, but needs 2–3 years to even start to be drinkable. It will have 2–3 decades of longevity.
VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Aug 2015
The Cabernet Sauvignon-based 2012 El Desafio de Jonata graces the palate with its sensual personality. Raspberry jam, pomegranate, leather, smoke, spice and tobacco all blossom in the glass. Big, rich and inviting, the 2012 boasts superb intensity and resonance, although it doesn’t quite have the visceral thrill of the very best wines in this range. Shades of rose petal and mint add the closing shades of nuance. The 2012 was aged in French oak, 80% new.
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United States | California | Central Coast | Ballard Canyon

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Jonata Todos 2012 / 750 ml.
Jonata Todos 2012 / 750 ml.

2012 / 750 ml.

Item #: 82046

VN9393 pts. - Vinous - Aug 2015
The 2012 Todos, Jonata’s Syrah-based blend, is once again delicious. A touch of appassimento gives the 2012 an extra kick of flavor and texture intensity. Sweet cherry, raspberry jam, spice, mint and licorice notes abound in this racy, bold red. Todos is Jonata’s least expensive red wine, but it competes quite favorable with the higher-end bottlings. The 2012 was aged mostly in larger-format French oak barrels, with 40% new wood.
RP9393 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Aug 2015
A great wine, the 2012 Todos Proprietary Red Wine offers terrific notes of black and red raspberry fruits, toasted bread and spice. As it sat in the glass, more classic Syrah olive, bacon and a touch of violet all developed. Medium to full-bodied, juicy, mouthfilling and loaded with sweet fruit, it doesn’t skimp on structure and will have at least a decade of longevity. Think of this as a mini-La Sangre. The blend here is 75% Syrah with 7% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance a mix of varieties.
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