More lively and pure, with brighter acidity than the 2010, the 2011 La Sangre de Jonata gives up plenty of violets, toast, licorice, chocolate and blackberry fruit as well as a full-bodied, supple and gorgeously focused and pure feel in the mouth. More approachable than the 2010, and scoring high on drinkability, this beauty will benefit from another year or thee and drink nicely through 2026. Drink 2015-2026. 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