2017 El Jabali Vineyard Pinot Noir - Alma Rosa Winery

Spiced bing cherry, dried lavender, crushed pomegranate. Thanksgiving cranberry, sea breeze, blood orange peel. Cardamom and five spice, pine wood and forest floor. Raspberry preserve, wild boysenberry, and blackberry patch intertwine with autumn potpourri and undergrowth in an expressive, aromatic, and remarkably high-toned attack. Brown mushroom and dried leaves inject earthy umami before nutmeg, curry, black pepper, and vanilla take over bringing pronounced lifted spice. Impressions of sand, salinity, and mountain earth emerge with air as a calling card of the ruggedly beautiful and untamed site from whence this came. Still extremely tight and young - barely finding its stride yet already showing glimpses of greatness. Medium plus in body with subtle tannin and elevated acidity. This 2017 El Jabali Vineyard Pinot Noir by Alma Rosa Winery is an exceptional red from one of the Santa Rita Hills most historic properties.

Named after the wild boar that roam its secluded mountainous terrain, Rancho El Jabali was etched into the history of Santa Barbara viticulture when it was planted to wine grapes by local legend Richard Sanford in 1983. It would become the first organic vineyard in the county and is still farmed organically today. This bottling, crafted by Alma Rosa Winery using Pinot Noir source from Rancho El Jabali, is an outstanding example of the unique character of this lauded site. It is tense, brooding, and wonderfully spiced with impressively lifted ethereal flair. This is a benchmark Santa Barbara Pinot Noir that is remarkably sturdy and build to age. Wonderful job here by Alma Rosa on their flagship bottling.