Alma Rosa 'El Jabali' Pinot Noir 2022

One vineyard, one clone, one of the finest Pinot Noirs in Santa Barbara County.

Alma Rosa was founded by Richard Sanford — the man who first planted Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills — and the estate has been in the hands of winemaker Samra Morris since 2014. El Jabali is the crown jewel: a single-vineyard, single-clone expression sourced predominantly from clone 943, which produces tiny, intensely concentrated clusters that give the wine its characteristic depth and precision. The 2022 was aged in 50% new French oak, yet the barrel influence is restrained — a deliberate choice that lets the vineyard speak.

Tasting Notes

Deep and concentrated on the nose, with black cherry, dark cloves, and cedar that draw you in with quiet authority. On the palate, sweet cherry and sour cherry play against each other with beautiful tension — neither dominating, both essential. Dark clove and cedar spice weave through the mid-palate, while the fine-grained structure keeps everything taut and focused without austerity.

The Finish

Long and precise, with sour cherry and a whisper of cedar lingering well after the glass is empty. Structured to reward patience but generous enough to drink now.

What the Critics Say

• James Suckling: 95 points — "So deep and concentrated in black cherries and delicious spices... Shows nice tension behind sweet cherries, sour cherries and dark cloves and cedar accents."