Last year I was at a wine event and spotted Greg Brewer from afar. We greeted each other and ironically the first thing we talked about wasn’t wine. ‘I really like that new video,’ as I brought up a high-production and resolution video that was made for promoting Brewer-Clifton wines. ‘Yeah, that was fun to do,’ Greg explained. The video depicts Greg sitting on a beach on a gorgeous summer day, as he casually talks about his wines and wines from the Santa Barbara region. I tried the wines he was pouring and walking away I realized that the video is literally the last thing I should be talking about as I was given a reminder that the wines from Brewer-Clifton are anything but casual beach wines. These are serious wines, stating with their entry level wines and across the board to their downright thrilling single vineyard Pinot Noirs.I first tried these wines during my inaugural visit to Santa Barbara Wine Country in 2004 and I continue to be really impressed with what Greg does with his wines. When you look at the consistency of his product, vintage to vintage, Greg is truly one of the great winemakers in North America.
I recently had the chance to review all of his new release wines and they were amazing across the board. A few years back Greg launched his ‘Diatom’ project, named after the diatomaceous earth that is found throughout Santa Barbara County. The 2018 Diatom ‘Bar-M’ Chardonnay (WWB, 94) is a show-stopping effort that is marvelously textured and has magical tension and salinity that runs through the wine. Wait for the long, gratifying finish! Even better was the 2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 95) which is a roller-coaster ride filled with brightness, range and brilliant terroir. Learn more about these special wines at https://www.brewerclifton.com Here are the great new wines by Greg Brewer and Brewer-Clifton.
2018 Diatom ‘Katherine’s’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Katherine’s’ Chardonnay shows nice salted Marcona almond and pink grapefruit tones that build together aromatically. The palate is exceedingly bright and lithe, showing off a silky texture and yielding medium-bodied lemon cream and saline drenched Challah bread flavors. The long finish is exceedingly good. This has just terrific length and elegance. Fantastic now, this will continue to build for another seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2027- 93
2018 Diatom ‘Bar-M’ Chardonnay- Every bit as outstanding as the ‘Katherine’s’ the ‘Bar-M’ is a truly brilliant wine by superstar winemaker Greg Brewer. Ripe apricot and roasted hazelnuts meld with wild mushroom and earthy undertones on this downright intoxicating nose. The freshness and verve to the wine is outstanding, as the tension, salinity and weight truly entices. The long, buttercream and mineral-driven finish lingers for nearly a minute. Gorgeous in its youth, the ‘Bar-M’ will evolve well for another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 94
2017 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Chardonnay- Weighing in at 14.5% alcohol, the ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Chardonnay by the talented Greg Brewer was sourced from the 3D, Machado, Acin and Hapgood vineyards. Texturally beautiful, the wine yields great brightness and acidity, as well as weight. Baked apple and vanilla creme brûlée flavors mingle with the earthy and citrus rind undertones on this complex palate. While outstanding now, the 2017 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Chardonnay will provide drinking enjoyment for another decade, picking up tertiary tones as it ages. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir is an absolutely killer value Pinot Noir by this storied estate first founded in 1996. On the nose this takes on salted Bing cherry tones that collide with shades of blood orange zest, Umami and wild strawberry that all take their shape in the glass. The freshness imparted, as well as the silky texture, really shines here. Bright red cherry preserves and pomegranate seed connect with the damp terroir tones and salted orange zest flavors. While this is outstanding now, the wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir- Even better than their entry level bottling, the 2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Machado’ Pinot Noir is a spell-binding new wine from this storied state in the Santa Rita Hills. The ‘Machado Vineyard’ is a 15 acre site that is adjacent to Clos Pepe and immediately behind the Kessler-Haak Vineyard. Planted to Pommard, Merry Edwards, Mount Eden, and 459 clones, the Pinot Noir opens with peat moss and wild blackberry tones that connect with the seaweed and citrus rind aromatics that are all woven together brilliantly in the glass. The palate is lithe, elegant and marvelously textured. Red and dark fruit flavors collide with copious minerals and damp earth undertones, with a beam of salinity that sings through the mid-palate. A complete wine, the 2016 ‘Machado’ will provide an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2040- 95
2017 Ex Post Facto Syrah- Sourced from a host of sites in the Santa Barbara County, the Syrah shows smoky undertones that mingle with white pepper, blackberry cobbler and suggestions of venison tartare that take shape in the glass. The palate shows a nice combination of verve and viscosity with straightforward black fruit and smoky flavors. Beautiful now, this will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another seven years. Drink 2020-2027- 91