Alma Rosa Vineyard makes its house close to the El Jabali property within the the Santa Rita Hills of California, a winery initially planted by pioneer Richard Sanford in 1983. At this time, Alma Rosa has been run by winemaker Samra Morris since 2019, the place she seems chardonnay and pinot noir wines, together with some Rhone-styled choices. (Our final overview was for the 2018 classic, so the timing is nice.)
At this time we have a look at the operation’s latest chardonnay and pinot releases, each from the broader Santa Rita Hills AVA moderately than the El Jabali winery immediately.
2023 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills – A reasonably hearty chardonnay, this wine isn’t in any respect shy about its oak getting older, to the purpose the place I like to recommend letting it sit in glass for a superb 10 minutes earlier than you tuck into it. After a number of the heavier vanilla and toasted wooden notes dissipate barely, the wine’s apple and lemon curd parts take the reins earlier than it cruises towards a midpalate that’s thick with notes of honeydew and Asian pear. The expertise feels nearly slathered in vanilla custard all through, the end notably lingering on a cake-like high quality. B+ / $40
2023 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – My first bottle of this wine was corked and largely unpalatable. Fortuitously, Alma Rosa despatched a pair of every of those wines, and my backup bottle provided a way more nice expertise, that includes clear fruit notes, blackberry outstanding over a slight, underlying pruniness and a touch of balsamic. Hints of violet and rhubarb are mild and complementary, with a end that sees mild sweetness and a moderated smear of forest ground. Give the wine a while to open up and it ought to attraction you. B+ / $50
2023 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
USD50
