Alma Rosa Pinot Noir, El Jabali 2023 (750ml)

*COMING SOON*

Winemaking
Following a 5-day cold soak, fruit (15% whole cluster) fermented for 10-15 days in a combination of one-ton bins and open top stainless steel tanks
Free run and barreled directly into 50% new French oak and 50% neutral French oak barrels, and allowed to go through natural malolactic fermentation
Sat on gross lees until the end of August before being racked off to tank and allowed to settle naturally
Aged for a total of 10 months in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered

Vintage Notes
The 2023 vintage began with a record amount of rainfall, setting the stage for a long, cool growing season that extended into a later harvest. The prolonged ripening period allowed the grapes to develop slowly and gradually, with small berries and clusters. Daily marine breezes from the Pacific Ocean, just 10 miles away, and the absence of extreme weather events created ideal conditions for producing fruit of exceptional quality, bright acidity, concentration and character.

Tasting Notes
Alma Rosa’s estate vineyard, El Jabali, was originally planted in 1983 by Founder Richard Sanford. Since then, it has been redeveloped and replanted and today spans 47 acres across five non-contiguous sites. The 2023 El Jabali Pinot Noir is bright ruby red in the glass and opens with layered aromas of raspberries, cherries and crushed rose petals. On the palate, vibrant red fruit mingles with notes of Earl grey tea and floral undertones, supported by a fine mineral backbone and chalky tannins that provide structure and length.

History of Alma Rosa
Alma Rosa is an estate deeply rooted in the winemaking history of the Santa Rosa Hills in the southern sector of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Here, growing conditions combine sunshine with the powerful cooling influence of onshore winds and fog from the Pacific Ocean.

The unique geography, chilly climate, and clay-loam soils attracted Alma Rosa Founder Richard Sanford to this area in the early 70s where he pioneered Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara County. Today, under the leadership of Proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich and Winemaker Samra Morris, Alma Rosa remains dedicated to crafting wines that embody the best of the Sta. Rita Hills while preserving the authenticity and sustainability of the estate’s terroir.

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