Essence of black cherry. Very seductive nose with red currant, pipe tobacco and dried sage. Cured meat and rosemary. Refined, elegant and noble at this young stage. A wine with tremendous posture. Savory and salty with a gentle powdering of tannin. Moves gracefully from black to green to red fruit alongside a serious backbone of acidity. Notes of new leather and red plum. Taut and tense with energy. This young Sangiovese will do well with a decant and some protein on the table. A crunchy, herbal and seamless wine that is absolutely focused and so pure. Taste this wine and close your eyes as you are transported to the center of Block 17. Truly captures the charm and mystery of JONATA Sangiovese.
- Matt Dees, Winemaker
Varietal:
100% Sangiovese
Vineyard:
JONATA Estate, Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley
Ageing:
18 months in neutral French oak
Alcohol:
14.1%
Case Production:
129
93 Points
The 2023 Tierra is 100% Sangiovese, as always. Crunchy, savory red fruit meets plush textures and notes of turned earth, new leather and cedar. Fine, powdery tannins and rich tobacco-like tones give the Tierra a distinctly Ballard Canyon bent. The 2023 feels more varietal than past editions, likely a function of the cooler year that allowed for Sangiovese's natural acidity to shine through.
Billy Norris, Vinous, August 2025
94 Points
Made from 100% Sangiovese, the 2023 Tierra is medium ruby-hued and semi-opaque, with ripe cherries, hints of raspberries, spicy herbs, and a kiss of background oak. I absolutely love its purity, finesse, and elegance, and it has ripe, polished tannins and flawless balance. A brilliant Sangiovese, it will evolve beautifully over the coming decade. This might be the one cuvée that’s seen the greatest leap in quality over the past decade. Drink 2025-2035.
Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, September 2025
95 Points
This is 100% Sangiovese—just five barrels, all aged in older oak. It carries a brightness and purity of fruit that firmly situates it in Santa Ynez, where high, golden sunlight and Pacific-scented breezes infuse the wine with clarity and lift. There’s no rusticity here—just vibrant raspberry preserves and sage, anchored by firm, taut, mineral-rich tannins. Subtle hints of tobacco thread through the wine’s coiled energy and textural tension. It’s crunchy and precise now, but that structure will soften and deepen with time. These wines evolve into something profoundly savory—layered with loamy earth, liquid leather, and an undeniable sense of soul. Drink it now for its youthful exuberance, or hold it to experience the full savory fireworks still to come.
Jonathan Cristaldi, Cristaldi & Co., May 2025
