Rell, dried sage, fig paste, currant candy. This wine will stand out among the others. It has a sense of concentration, rich aromas, and power. Very youthful and fresh. Ripe but firm black berries. The finish has cool tannins. It is one of the best wines ever made by Desafio. Its unique expressiveness is similar to the 2018 El Alma. You can also feel the nuances of the soil and black fruits. What is essential to the greatness of 2018 is the mild (high 20°C) and sunny days that continued from mid-August until the harvest. The growing season from veraison to harvest was perfect. The grapes slowly developed phenolic ripeness, and the sugar content was not too high, and the acidity was well maintained. The harvest began on September 15, 2018, and only Sangiovese and Merlot were picked during this month. The rainfall in early October was low, which helped to wash away the dust from the grape bunches. The slow ripening growing season resulted in a harvest two weeks later than in 2017. Most of the black grapes were harvested under sunny skies between October 10th and October 26th. 2018 is a vintage of impeccable quality and quantity. The white wines have a smooth texture, tension and energy, while the red wines are delicate and elegant. It is a very approachable vintage, and like 2017, the wines are very exciting, with charm and complexity. In 2000, the owner of Screaming Eagle, one of the representative California cult wines, showed an interest in Santa Barbara. He planted Bordeaux varieties on land that he was told would be better for growing asparagus. This gamble, which he said was a big gamble, led to the creation of a super premium wine that represents California, thanks to the efforts of Matt Deese, who was the winemaker for Michel Rolland and Staglin. Robert Parker states, "It's mind-blowing how they've been able to succeed with Bordeaux varieties there." Honata is 600 gorgeous acres of golden hills, 80 of which have been carefully selected for their unique microclimates and soils. The land is divided into over 50 blocks and sub-blocks, each with a different combination of rootstocks, clones and planting densities. The result is the variety of flavors that winemaker Matt needs for Honata. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in plant and soil science, Matt moved to Napa Valley to work with Andy Erickson at Staglin Family Vineyards, learning about Bordeaux varieties. During his three years with Staglin, he also worked with Doug Weiser at Craggy Range in New Zealand for three vintages, adding Syrah and Pinot Noir to his resume. Matt learned the importance of expressing the flavor of the vineyard through his experience making Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Pinot Noir in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Dees strongly believes that the world's greatest wines are made in the field. He joined Honata in 2004 with his extensive and well-balanced background and passion for the high quality grapes of this field. The winery is owned by Stan Kroenke, the owner of the famous California cult wine "Screaming Eagle". He is also the owner of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the St. Louis Rams of the NFL, and is the majority shareholder of Arsenal of the Premier League.