The 2008 El Alma de Jonata is dazzling. It possesses striking inner perfume, fresh, beautifully delineated fruit and world-class elegance. Layers of plush, dark fruit caress the palate in this pedigreed wine. The 80% new barrels is felt in the wine's breadth and richness, but there is enough fruit to handle the oak. (AG)

The 2008 El Alma de Jonata is fully mature, wafting from the glass with a lavish bouquet of sweet berry fruit, fruit compote, marmalade, tobacco and dark chocolate that has nicely integrated its oak component. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained structuring tannins, becoming quite savory with age, its structure asserting itself more prominently on the finish as its first flush of primary fruit fades. (WK)

(75% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot): A perfumed, kaleidoscopic bouquet displays scents of dark berry preserves, vanilla, licorice pastille, cola and pipe tobacco, with an intense overlay of floral oils. Broad, fleshy and sweet, offering intense blackcurrant and blueberry flavors that stain the palate. The vanilla and spice notes build strongly through the very long, sappy, penetrating finish. Impressively energetic for such a rich wine, and the tannins are strikingly harmonious. (JR)