Wow—an exceptional bottling from the hyper-talented Matt Dees. Based in Ballard Canyon AVA in Santa Barbara county, Jonata specializes in Bordeaux and Rhône varieties that thrive in the region’s warm days and cool nights. The estate is farmed sustainably using polyface farming, integrating livestock to naturally enrich the land alongside gardens, bees, and olive trees. With a background in soil science, Dees believes great wine begins in the vineyard. The 2021 ‘La Sangre’—a blend of 95% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah, and 1% Viognier—shows remarkable concentration and complexity, with notes of black plum skin, pine, peppercorn, and herbs. Aged 20 months in 35% new French oak, it balances depth and elegance, earning 98 points from Galloni and 99 from Dunnuck.