90pts Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills leads with dark fruit, dried rose and black tea aromas, leading to a seamless, concentrated and ripe palate. It concludes on a toasted, upright note chock-full of layered fruit flavors framed with subtly drying tannins. Well-made and straight to the point, this is a charming introduction to the flavorful style at Alma Rosa. Drink Date: 2024 2027. Reviewed by: Matthew Luczy

Established in 2005 by local legend and regional pioneer Richard Sanford, Alma Rosa centers around the 38-acre El Jabal Ranch, planted by Sanford in 1983 around the home where he resides today while serving as Alma Rosa’s Brand Ambassador. Its location in the southeastern quadrant of Sta. Rita Hills results in texturally commanding wines, further emphasized by the polished, rounded winemaking on display, which has been under the guidance of Samra Morris since 2019. Since her arrival, the wines have gently moved toward a more consistent freshness while retaining their underlying confidence.

Published:Oct 10, 2024