01 Oct Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Alma Rosa 2021 Attente Red, Sta. Rita Hills

On a visit to Alma Rosa Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, I was looking at a rack of wine bottles, recognizing the dark blue label with a drawing of the vineyard. But then I noticed a deep, dark purple label with the same image. I had never seen this label before and it caught my eye. I took a closer look and it was not Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, or Pinot Gris. It was Attente, a Grenache-Syrah blend. I was intrigued and had to try it. And this week the Alma Rosa 2021 Attente Red, Sta. Rita Hills is the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Alma Rosa Attente

Alma Rosa was founded by Richard Sanford, an early pioneer of Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills. Located in the cool southern sector of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the winery is overseen today by winemaker Samra Morris. The estate vineyard, El Jabali, was originally planted in 1983 by Sanford. Thriving in one of California’s most wind-swept and coastal-influenced regions, it offers ideal conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But on the highest elevation blocks on the estate, Syrah and Grenache are planted. And the 2021 vintage was the second year of producing the grapes.

The 2021 vintage was considered a near-perfect vintage with mild and steady weather, allowing the grapes to develop slowly. The final blend is 52% Grenache and 48% Syrah. The grapes were fermented with 30% whole-cluster in stainless steel and aged in a mix of French oak barrels (60% new) and puncheon for 14 months. The wine was then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes

Like the color of the label, the wine is a deep ruby color with a hint of purple. Aromatic notes of violets, blackberry, black currant, and plum dominate the nose, followed by notes of pepper, sage, and a touch of menthol. On the palate, the wine has firm tannins, vibrant acidity, and a long finish.

Food Pairing

I brought this wine to dinner at my friends’ house, where we enjoyed it with lamb chops and parsnip puree. The tannins of the wine softened with the tender meat, and the acidity cut through the creaminess of the puree. Together, the wine and food were in harmony.

Where To Purchase

The Alma Rosa 2021 Attente Red, Sta. Rita Hills retails for approximately $85, but is a wine available for wine club members only. I was lucky to get my hands on a bottle. For information on the Alma Rosa Wine Club, click here.

Meet the Winemaker

Get to know Samra Morris in 30 questions on the Wine Soundtrack USA podcast.