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 medium bodied Chardonnay, a testament to the incredible 2021 vintage in the Sta. Rita Hills.
94 pts. James Suckling, 94 pts. Jeb Dunnuck