VINEYARD RUMINATIONS

The 2014 vintage was at least a month early which was highly unusual. Early on in the spring of 2014 we decided to hedge our bets and approach this harvest with very low yields in all blocks. We felt this would give us the best chance to handle any odd weather curveballs that mother nature threw our way. We just had a gut feeling that we were in for an unusual harvest. In all Jonata blocks, we dropped the normal two clusters per shoot immediately to one cluster per shoot in the spring. As the vintage progressed, we revisited most blocks and cut the remaining one cluster per shoot in half. I remember thinking at that time that it is never a great idea to wax poetically about a vintage until it is passed and its wines have been in barrel for at least 16 months. That being said, let’s just say that the 2014 wines were extremely promising across the board from the very start. As always in a vintage as unique and early as 2014, the secret to success lies in the vineyard. I am incredibly excited about the entire range. As the vines continue to mature at Jonata, I believe we will continue to see more balance and elegance. We’ll still produce powerful wines obviously, but perhaps big wines with more polite manners. — Matt Dees, Winemaker

ON THE WINE

Expansive and focused, savory and chewy. This blend represents the perfect lens through which to view the confluence of the Santa Barbara sun and the Jonata sandy soils. A perfect match. Lifted aromatic combination of fruit and spice; Cabernet Sauvignon meets Syrah. Then Viognier joins the mix. Exotic and true representation of the 11 varieties grown at the Jonata property. In a year of structure and seriousness, this wine brings the hedonism. Soft, plush and complex. Absolutely gorgeous. This wine delivers everything that we hope to see from Todos. — Matt Dees, Winemaker