Tech Notes
Wine Details
Wine Enthusiast
James Suckling
Vinous
Wine Advocate
Decanter
Jeb Dunnuck
Wine Spectator
WTSO Member Rating: 92 Points
By Alma Rosa Winery
2022 Pinot Noir Caracol
Mission
Our mission at Alma Rosa is to produce exceptional wines that exemplify the best of our unique cool climate terroir in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation of northern Santa Barbara County. We specialize in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhone varieties, including Grenache and Syrah.
Source
100% El Jabali Vineyard, Block 9 (Caracol planting, massal selection). Situated on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County, the Alma Rosa estate vineyard, El Jabali, was first planted in 1983 by California wine pioneer Richard Sanford, who founded Alma Rosa Winery in 2005.
Winemaking
100% destemmed. Cold soak for 5 days, followed by 10-15 days of fermentation. Fermented in small 1-ton bins. Juice was pressed free-run directly into 50% new French oak barrels and allowed to undergo natural malolactic fermentation. Wine sat on its gross lees until the end of July, when it was racked and allowed to settle naturally. It aged for 10 months in total. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Tasting Notes
The 2022 Caracol Pinot Noir comes from Block 9 of the El Jabali estate, planted in 2015 with multiple rootstocks and clones in a pattern for varied sun exposure. Dark ruby in color, it shows cherries, boysenberries, red currants, hibiscus, and sage, with a vibrant palate of strawberries, red licorice, baking spice, chalky tannins, bright acidity, and a graceful finish.
[Information provided by Alma Rosa Winery]
Region:
Santa Barbara County
Vintage:
2022
Grape:
Pinot Noir
Country:
United States
Unit Size:
750.00 ML
Alcohol Percentage:
14.50
Appellation:
Sta. Rita Hills
Wine: Alma Rosa 2022 Caracol Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
Score/Rating: 95
Review Date: 03/01/2025
Reviewed By: Matt Kettmann
Tasting Notes: From a circular vineyard atop a knoll, this bottling is rich, deep and smooth yet not overbearing, offering boysenberry, pepper, herb and woodspice aromas on the nose. The palate is creamy in texture while retaining a tense edge, as flavors of dark berry and black pepper make for a pure expression.
Wine: Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Caracol 2022
Score/Rating: 95
Review Date: 10/31/2024
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon
Tasting Notes: A blend of red fruit, raspberries, orange peel, flowers and some toasty, spicy accents. Firm tannins and vibrant acidity pair up with the complex fruit and mellow spices. Made from a section of the estate vineyards where the vines spiral out from the center [...]. All barrels are Francois Freres, with 50% new. Has great structure for further aging. Drink or hold.
Wine: Alma Rosa 2022 Pinot Noir Caracol
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034
Review Date: 07/2024
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes: The 2022 Pinot Noir Caracol emerges from a block planted in a circular arrangement with six clones. Dark red cherry fruit, pomegranate, blood orange, spice, menthol and mocha are front and center. All of the fruit was destemmed here, a choice that paid off. The 50% new oak is expertly judged.
Wine: 2022 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Caracol
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2032
Review Date: 10/10/2024
Reviewed By: Matthew Luczy
Tasting Notes: Entirely destemmed and aged in 50% new French oak, the 2022 Pinot Noir Caracol comes from a hilltop block planted to a massal selection [...]. The most integrated Pinot Noir at this youthful stage, the nose is a beguiling combination of brooding, floral, stony and oceanic, leading to a fantastically silky, ethereal yet richly flavored palate. The finish is intensely structured and assertive, with powdery tannins twisting in and out of similar oceanic freshness to the nose. This merits time to unwind in the cellar and should age gracefully for at least a decade.
Wine: Alma Rosa, Caracol Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 2022
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034
Review Date: 09/20/2024
Reviewed By: Vanessa Rason
Tasting Notes: The estate Caracol Vineyard is planted in an unconventional radial shape, using massal selection, located 700 meters above sea level in the Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara. Its Pinot Noir is equally unique, offering promising depth with a brooding bouquet of dark red and black fruit aromas, including cassis, huckleberry, and blueberry, complemented by sultry, sweet tobacco that adds complexity to the nose. A distinctive mineral character mimics crushed seashells, accompanied by a subtle note of dried eucalyptus. The acidity is prominent, falling between medium-plus and high, with tannins that are defined yet subtle in their delivery. This is undoubtedly a well-made wine, showcasing an overall degree of elegance. The wine’s initial bold and hedonistic quality is tempered by youthful inconsistency, leaving the palate expecting more balance and cohesion in future vintages. However, its distinctive character remains cloyingly charming, giving it an air of awkward beauty in a world defined by conventionality; this wine is for the curious adventurer.
Wine: 2022 Alma Rosa Winery Pinot Noir Caracol
Score/Rating: 93+
Review Date: 08/15/2024
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: Slightly darker notes of smoky red and black fruits, spicy wood, dried flowers, and leather all emerge from the 2022 Pinot Noir Caracol, a richer, medium to full-bodied, slightly foursquare effort that has ripe tannins, plenty of fruit, and outstanding length. Give it a year or two.
Wine: Alma Rosa Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Caracol 2022
Score/Rating: 91
Suggested Drinking Window: Drink now through 2028
Review Date: 03/03/2025
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: Offers an alluring feel, with seductive layers of mulled plum, boysenberry and black cherry fruit rolling through, all laced with singed anise, black tea and warm earth notes. Drink now through 2028.
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