Winemaker Notes
This bottling is comprised Chardonnay from four vineyards within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune vineyards all contribute to the wine which exhibits a drive, richness and pedigree expressive of our special growing area coupled with the purity of fruit and firm structure which have been the trademark of Brewer-Clifton.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers crushed citrus, oyster shell, white flowers, and a kiss of salty minerality. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. As I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County.
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James Suckling
Flint and seashells set the stage for a vibrant, tactile chardonnay with pears, bruised apples and almond skin, a coiled pulse of acidity running through the finish.
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Wine Spectator
Shows harmony and intensity, with focused flavors of tangerine, Meyer lemon, lime and pomelo that are lovely at the core, plus aromatic notes of lemongrass, lemon thyme and oregano. A fresh thread of acidity and details of Himalayan sea salt gain momentum on the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An impressive overview of the region, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers a quintessential, refined and precise expression of the house style. It showcases a more polished, slightly honeyed side of Brewer-Clifton, concluding with a harmonious, succulent finish that lingers with the region's signature saline-laced minerality.
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a blend of all the sites Brewer-Clifton works with. Crystal-clear, energetic and vibrant, the 2023 possesses an undeniable sense of place that is particularly impressive for an entry-level wine. Sea spray, lemon oil, ripe golden apple and spice gain intensity on the wide, supple close. This is beautifully persistent from start to finish.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.