Brewer-Clifton

Sort By:

Brewer-Clifton 2004 Mount Carmel Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Editors' Choice

Price $52

Brilliant aromatics characterize this powerful wine. It has lots of charry, fine oak and huge fruit, like apricots, peaches, pineapples and mangoes. In the mouth, a firm minerality kicks in, based on high, clean acidity. This is a beautifully complex, dazzling Chard, intense and pure, but balanced and elegant. — S.H. (3/1/2006)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2005 Mt. Carmel Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

Cellar Selection

Price $60

The complex aromaa of this dramatic young wine is of mushrooms and wet tree bark, wintergreen, cloves, nutmeg and anise, and fruitier notes of cherries, cola and pomegranates. The mouth is very complex, too, with a finish of intensely pure cherries. But the wine is young and tannic. It will be best after 2008, and should drink well for at least another five years. — S.H. (4/1/2007)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2004 Ashleys Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $60

With over 16% alcohol, this wine is soft, round, lush and utterly delicious. The citrus and tropical fruit, oak, cream and mineral flavors don’t taste at all hot, but are luscious. — S.H. (3/1/2006)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2004 Melville Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $46

It’s odd that while the alcohol here is lower than on the winery’s Rancho Santa Rosa bottling, the wine tastes hotter, with a pepper spice note that actually complements the ripe, exotic tropical fruit, pear and buttercream flavors. This is a very big, complex wine, long-lasting in the finish and impressive for the way its mass is balanced and contained. — S.H. (8/1/2006)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2004 Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $46

At nearly 16% alcohol, this is one of the biggest Chards I’ve ever had. It’s totally dry and explosive in all sorts of late-picked, effusively ripe pineapple custard, lemon drop and apricot, caramelized brown sugar and cinnamon. A wine like this is an achievement anywhere, and while there are those who will object to its size, it is certainly delicious. — S.H. (8/1/2006)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2005 Seasmoke Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $48

This is a big, rich wine, huge in fruit of the tropical-pie flavors. Huge in alcohol, it wears its weight well. The wine, from this venerable vineyard, feels honeyed, opulent, massive, and is almost better by itself than with food. — S.H. (4/1/2007)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2005 Mt. Carmel Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $52

This Chard shows the immaculate purity of SRH Chard, that intensely pure lemon drop and pineapple taste, while oak adds exotic layers of custard and buttercream. High acidity adds the perfect finishing touch, making all this richness bright. — S.H. (4/1/2007)

points

Brewer-Clifton 2005 Sweeney Canyon Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills)

Price $56

From some of the oldest Chard vines in the area comes this dramatically rich wine. Bursting with lemon drop, Meyer lemon mousse, peach pulp and toasty new oak, this is a very ripe wine whose high alcohol, 16.4%, shows only as a dusting of white pepper and spicy clove that makes the finish piquant. — S.H. (4/1/2007)

Most Reviewed Designations

Ashleys Cargasacchi Clos Pepe Lindsay's Melville Mount Carmel Mt. Carmel Rancho Santa Rosa Seasmoke Sweeney Canyon

Most Reviewed Varietals

Chardonnay Pinot Noir

2009 Mira Hyde Vineyard

The esteemed Hyde Vineyard is in Carneros, and is the source for some…

(Sponsored)