Jonata

Stan Kroenke, the sports and real estate magnate who acquired Napa Valley's Screaming Eagle in 2006, had identified Santa Barbara County as a target for serious estate investment by the early 2000s. He purchased the 588-acre Jonata property in the Santa Ynez Valley in 2003, drawn by the unusual combination of sandy soils (in some parcels) and limestone subsoils (in others), plus the warm-but-balanced climate that he believed could support both Bordeaux and Rhône varietals. Vineyard planting began that year across approximately 80 acres. Matt Dees, a Massachusetts native who had worked at Staglin Family Vineyard in Napa and at Frédéric Magnien in Burgundy, joined as winemaker in 2006 and has led Jonata's stylistic direction across Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot), Rhône varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre), Sangiovese, and white varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier) since. The first commercial vintage was 2004.

• Stan Kroenke (Screaming Eagle owner since 2006) purchased the 588-acre Jonata property in 2003
• Property name 'Jonata' is the Chumash word for the sand wash that crosses the land
• Matt Dees joined as winemaker 2006 (previously Staglin Family + Frédéric Magnien in Burgundy)
• Approximately 80 planted acres across Bordeaux, Rhône, Italian, and white varieties; first commercial vintage 2004

Jonata represents one of the most ambitious Santa Barbara County investments of the 2000s - the application of a Kroenke-scale resources strategy (the same approach that built Screaming Eagle to its current standing in Napa Valley) to a Santa Ynez Valley terroir that had historically operated at a more artisanal scale. The estate's combination of Bordeaux varietals (typically associated with warmer Napa Valley conditions) and Rhône varietals (common in Ballard Canyon) on a single property with unusual soil diversity makes Jonata a stylistic and viticultural laboratory. Matt Dees has built a reputation as one of California's most cerebral winemakers, with substantial public discussion of his stylistic decisions across the estate's portfolio. The Jonata model - major capital, comprehensive varietal exploration, Matt Dees winemaking, mailing-list distribution - influenced subsequent ambitious Santa Barbara County investments including The Hilt (a sister Kroenke project in Sta. Rita Hills).

• One of the most ambitious Santa Barbara County investments of the 2000s; Kroenke-scale resources applied to a historically artisanal AVA
• Bordeaux + Rhône varietal combination on a single property with unusual soil diversity (sand + limestone)
• Matt Dees recognized as one of California's most cerebral winemakers; substantial public stylistic discussion
• Influenced subsequent ambitious Santa Barbara County investments including The Hilt (sister Kroenke project)

Matt Dees's winemaking philosophy emphasizes site-driven expression with substantial barrel time and cellaring intent. Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-variety bottlings are fermented in small open-top tanks with native yeasts, with substantial extraction. Aging is in French oak (typically 60 to 80 percent new for the top Cabernet bottlings) for 22 to 30 months - among the longest barrel times in California. Syrah is fermented separately, with variable whole-cluster inclusion (typically 20 to 40 percent) and aged 18 to 24 months in French oak (35 to 50 percent new). The Sauvignon Blanc (Tierra) is whole-cluster pressed, fermented in concrete egg and neutral oak, aged on lees with limited bâtonnage. The wines are bottled with restraint on filtration; many are unfined and unfiltered. Alcohols typically run 14 to 15 percent. Dees has been a vocal advocate for the property's unusual sandy parcels, arguing that the sand sites produce more aromatic, lifted wines than the limestone sites.

• Substantial barrel time and cellaring intent; Cabernet 22-30 months in 60-80% new French oak
• Syrah: variable whole-cluster (20-40%), 18-24 months in French oak (35-50% new)
• Tierra Sauvignon Blanc: concrete egg + neutral oak, lees aging with limited bâtonnage
• Sandy parcels produce more aromatic, lifted wines than limestone sites; alcohols 14-15%

Jonata's flagship bottlings - particularly El Desafio de Jonata Cabernet Sauvignon and La Sangre de Jonata Syrah - have consistently earned 93 to 98 point scores across Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast since the mid-2000s. The estate's commercial success - mailing-list-only allocation, secondary-market premiums - places Jonata among the top tier of Santa Barbara County producers commercially. Matt Dees has been recognized in trade press as one of California's most accomplished winemakers operating across multiple varietal traditions. The 2015 opening of The Hilt (sister Kroenke Sta. Rita Hills project, also led by Dees) extended Kroenke's Santa Barbara County footprint and established Dees as the principal winemaker for both estates. Jonata's commercial and critical success has validated the Santa Ynez Valley as a serious destination for major estate investment.

• Consistent 93-98 point scores for El Desafio (Cabernet) + La Sangre (Syrah) since the mid-2000s
• Mailing-list-only allocation with substantial secondary-market premiums
• Matt Dees recognized as one of California's most accomplished cross-tradition winemakers
• 2015 opening of The Hilt extended Kroenke's Santa Barbara County footprint; Dees principal winemaker for both estates

Jonata is owned by Stan Kroenke and family, who also own Screaming Eagle (Napa Valley) and The Hilt (Sta. Rita Hills sister project). Matt Dees has been winemaker since 2006 and is the principal creative voice. Annual production runs approximately 5,000 to 7,000 cases across the estate cuvées (El Desafio de Jonata Cabernet Sauvignon, La Sangre de Jonata Syrah, El Alma de Jonata Cabernet Franc, Todos red blend, Tierra Sauvignon Blanc, and additional bottlings). Sales are conducted almost exclusively through mailing-list allocation, with very limited restaurant distribution. The estate has no public tasting room. The winery facility is on the Jonata property in the Santa Ynez Valley.

• Stan Kroenke and family: ownership continuous from 2003 founding; also Screaming Eagle (Napa) + The Hilt (Sta. Rita Hills)
• Matt Dees winemaker since 2006; principal creative voice for Jonata + The Hilt
• Annual production approximately 5,000-7,000 cases
• Mailing-list-only allocation; very limited restaurant distribution; no public tasting room

The Jonata estate occupies 588 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley adjacent to Ballard Canyon (technically just outside the AVA's official boundary), with approximately 80 acres planted to vines. Elevations range from approximately 400 to 700 feet. Soils are notably diverse: substantial sandy parcels (the property's namesake sand wash) plus calcareous limestone subsoils in other parcels - an unusual combination that supports the estate's varietal range. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and additional varieties. Plantings are organized into small designated blocks. Farming is non-organic but follows sustainable practices, with substantial canopy management and yield restrictions. The property also serves as the principal source for sister estate The Hilt's small-lot bottlings of Bordeaux varietals (The Hilt's primary identity is Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay).

• 588-acre estate in Santa Ynez Valley adjacent to Ballard Canyon; approximately 80 planted acres
• Elevations 400-700 feet; diverse soils: substantial sand parcels + calcareous limestone subsoils
• Plantings: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
• Property also supplies The Hilt's small-lot Bordeaux varietal bottlings (sister Kroenke estate primarily focused on Sta. Rita Hills Pinot + Chardonnay)