Brewer-Clifton 3-D Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2021

98 points                                                             New limited Reserve "3D" Chardonnay release from the famed Brewer-Clifton label in Santa Barbara!  The wines of Brewer-Clifton represent the essence of the best vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills area and focus on the production of single vineyard-designated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from carefully selected vineyards in the SRH appellation. previous ratings: 98 Points Robert Parker: "The Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay 3D features delicate, precise aromas this vintage: lemongrass, candied citrus and white peach are complemented by deeper wafts of matchstick and honeycomb. Medium-bodied, its generous, ripe citrus flavors are enlivened by bursts of mouthwatering acidity and anchored by a gentle textural grip, and it finishes with exotic, alluringly herbal flavors and great length. Such a singular expression this vintage!" 96 Points Jeb Dunuck: "The Brewer Clifton Chardonnay 3D is another mineral-laced effort, yet it's slightly richer and broader than the Machado. Brioche, toasted spices, honeyed stone fruits, and orange liqueur notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, powerful, concentrated Chardonnay that has bright acidity, beautiful mid-palate depth, and great acidity. It shows an incredible sense of salinity and minerality on the finish and is another awesome wine from Greg Brewer that will drink well for 10-15 years from cold cellars...enough can’t be said about the quality that’s consistently delivered by Greg Brewer’s Brewer-Clifton releases. As always, these wines are basically harvested all at the same time (by vineyard) and are not destemmed, with the aging occurring all in old barrels. The goal here is to show the difference between the vineyards, and I think he succeeds admirably." As readers will know, the Brewer-Clifton wines see no new oak at all. "I want all the expression and the decadence to come from the outside, so I use very old barrels and no stirring for Chardonnay," Greg explains. "Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, and the Pinot Noirs are whole-cluster fermented, from 70% to 100% for the single-vineyard designates. For me, stems are like a corset. We have so much fruit out here. I’ve spent 25 years working with stems as a means of framing and corseting, so we work with stems to shape and lift."  

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