One exciting Santa Barbara County property, Alma Rosa Winery is situated on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Rosa Hills in Santa Barbara County. The wines are well-balanced and have great terror from this close proximity to the Pacific Ocean. I love the new wines made by Samra Morris who was born and raised in Bosnia. Morris holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Food Sciences from The University of Sarajevo, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Post-graduation, Morris interned in the Department of Enology at The University of Sarajevo before deciding to pursue a winemaking career.
She got her start as a tasting room associate in Napa Valley, then went on to intern in the vineyard for St. Supery, spent three harvests as a harvest intern for esteemed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and was part of the cellar team for Michael Mondavi Family Estate. In 2017, Morris joined the Free Flow Wines team as a lab assistant, was promoted to lab supervisor the following year and then to QC manager. Tony Biagi serves as Alma Rosa consulting winemaker.
I loved the wines here across the board and do not miss out on the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is dense and polished with a soft mouthfeel. Just as good is the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Grenache (OB, 92) which deftly balances weight and finesse. Learn more about these great wines at almarosawinery.com and here are the new wine reviews by Alma Rosa.
2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Chardonnay offers toasted French bread with banana and shades of mango on the nose. The palate is fresh and polished with a silky texture. Enjoy this over the next eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 92
2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Grenache- This comes off intense and very fragrant with raspberry, chocolate and shades of red rose petals that all meld in the glass. The Grenache is beautifully textured, with good weight and finesse. Rich and layered, enjoy over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 92
2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Syrah- The really good 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Syrah delvers a hedonistic nose with violets and black tea with blackberry compote and a dash of white pepper. Very silky and elegant on the palate, the combination of freshness and depth, with salty undercurrents really carry this beautifully. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Alma Rosa ‘El Jabali’ Pinot Noir comes off very salty and savory on the nose with diatomaceous earth, potpourri and shades of orange rind. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90
2020 Alma Rosa ‘La Encantada’ Pinot Noir- The beautiful and fresh 2020 Alma Rosa ‘La Encantada’ Pinot Noir offers a soft mouthfeel with ripe red cherry and red raspberry flavors, with a silky texture. Enjoy now. Drink 2022-2026- 90
2020 Alma Rosa ‘Bentrock’ Pinot Noir- Delicious to consume now, the 2020 Alma Rosa ‘Bentrock’ Pinot Noir shows off Mandarin orange zest, pomegranate seed and red florals on the nose, with salty earth undertones. The palate displays good underlying finesse, with salty and ashy undercurrents. Drink 2022-2028- 91
2020 Alma Rosa ‘Attente’ Red Wine- A blend of 59% Grenache with 41% Syrah, the 2020 ‘Attente’ Red Wine opens with smoked brisket, violets and suggestions of Earl Grey tea. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and lengthy finish. Juicy and ripe, showing good underlying brightness, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2022-2030- 93