SC- 2021 Alma Rosa "El Jabali" Chardonnay

Forty years ago, Richard Sanford arrived in the Santa Ynez Valley with the intention of producing wines that could stand up to the finest in France. Richard is a pioneer with a well-established reputation for quality in winemaking. He was the first to plant Pinot Noir vines in the Santa Rita Hills, which are now formally recognized as an American Viticultural Area as Sta. Rita Hills.

For over three decades, Thekla and Richard Sanford collaborated to establish numerous prosperous wineries. The result of a lifetime of experience, Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards is their most recent endeavor. It is an organization committed to producing premium wines and raising the bar for environmentally responsible business practices, organic farming, and sustainable agricultural practices.

"The 2021 Chardonnay El Jabali Vineyard is terrific, with a richer style in its ripe orchard fruits, chalky minerals, and honeyed flower-like aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, a vibrant, layered mouthfeel, and nicely integrated oak, it's beautifully done and perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years." (08/2023)
-Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points

“It’s dense, yet very vivid and bright, with sliced apple, flint, bread dough and brioche. Lightly toasty. Medium-bodied with lovely density. Fresh herbs, such as sage. Transparent and energetic. Drink or hold.” (04/2023)
-James Suckling, 94 Points

"Alma Rosa’s estate vineyard, El Jabali, was originally planted in 1983 by winery founder Richard Sanford. In the glass, the 2021 El Jabali Chardonnay shines with an alluring bright yellow hue. "Vivid" and "bright" succinctly capture the essence of this wine, both on the nose and palate. On the nose, the wine shows lively notes of lemon zest and peel, fresh herbs and sea salt. Its oceanic profile embodies the distinctive characteristics of wines from the Sta. Rita Hills. The palate unveils an immediate burst of vibrant acidity followed by layers of apple, lemon, and more herbaceousness. Pronounced salinity provides a lingering, mouthwatering finish to this mediumbodied Chardonnay, a testament to the incredible 2021 vintage in the Sta. Rita Hills."
-Winemaker Notes

Foxcroft Online Price: $65 per bottle*
*This wine is arriving soon; we'll email you when it's ready for pickup