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Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021
New limited Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir from the famed Brewer-Clifton team. previous vintage 94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Gorgeous kirsch and framboise fruits as well as spice and dried flower notes all emerge from the Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills. It's a fresher, more elegant example from this great estate, with a solid spine of acidity, beautiful balance, and a great, great finish. It's brilliant today but will be even better with another year of bottle age and keep for at least 10-15 years in cold cellars." Brewer-Clifton's owner and winemaker is founding member Greg Brewer. Greg started his career as a French instructor at UC Santa Barbara before being trained in wine production at Santa Barbara Winery starting in 1991. He created his eponymous label, Brewer-Clifton with original partner Steve Clifton in 1996 and was the winemaker at another Santa Barbara County winery from its inception in 1997 through the end of 2015. Greg additionally created the label, Diatom, focusing on starkly raised Chardonnay, and Ex Post Facto, a Santa Barbara County Syrah. The entirety of his career has been committed to the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, which he helped to map, define, and establish in 1997. In the December 2001 Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Jr. wrote in his year-end summary that “The wines of Brewer-Clifton were the single greatest revelation of all of [his] 2001 tastings.”
Ratings on Delectable
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The 2021 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is such a beautiful wine. The appellation Pinot is often one of my favorite wines in this range, as it is again this year. The purity and exuberance of this fruit is compelling. Floral and savory nuances develop in the glass, but earlier bottling and a bit less whole cluster influence work well to accentuate the textural presence and intensity of the fruit. This is such a gorgeous wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2023)
The 2021 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is such a beautiful wine. The appellation Pinot is often one of my favorite wines in this range, as it is again this year. The purity and exuberance of this fruit is compelling. Floral and savory nuances develop in the glass, but earlier bottling and a bit less whole cluster influence work well to accentuate the textural presence and intensity of the fruit. This is such a gorgeous wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2023)
9.4
Arvind Sharma
Medium acidity. Light and clean taste. A little ‘bolder’ than a typical Pinot. Very, very good. Would definitely buy again.
Medium acidity. Light and clean taste. A little ‘bolder’ than a typical Pinot. Very, very good. Would definitely buy again.
9.1
Antra Stabler
In line with the relic. Slightly purple tongue. Fruity, but not overpowering.
In line with the relic. Slightly purple tongue. Fruity, but not overpowering.
9.7
Kadua Tukvaga
Pronounced ripe cranberry, sour red cherry, herbs, red plum, toast, smoke note, violet, vegetal, earth, black pepper, liquorish note, rhubarb preserved. Pale garnet Medium+ intensity High acidity Long finish High alcohol Full bodied Outstanding -keep at least two more years before open, suitable for further ageing.
Pronounced ripe cranberry, sour red cherry, herbs, red plum, toast, smoke note, violet, vegetal, earth, black pepper, liquorish note, rhubarb preserved. Pale garnet Medium+ intensity High acidity Long finish High alcohol Full bodied Outstanding -keep at least two more years before open, suitable for further ageing.
10Maureen O'Leary
I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.
9.3
Kurt Winrich
Tannic, but fruit present. Cherry, plus dark fruit. Eaten with lobster
Tannic, but fruit present. Cherry, plus dark fruit. Eaten with lobster
9.0
Melanie VanLue
Delicious Pinot!
Delicious Pinot!
9.1
Ted
Been on a Sta Rita Hills kick lately. Didn’t even know much about it. Now I do. Really good stuff. Would like to see how this ages.
Been on a Sta Rita Hills kick lately. Didn’t even know much about it. Now I do. Really good stuff. Would like to see how this ages.
9.3
Joe Lyons
House wine at my hotel in Santa Clara, raspberries, pepper, nice light Pinot!
House wine at my hotel in Santa Clara, raspberries, pepper, nice light Pinot!
8.8
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