2012 Brewer-Clifton "3-D" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

Orange peel, honey, spice, mint and sage are some of the many notes that inform the 2012 Chardonnay 3-D. This is another deep, textured wine loaded with class, complexity and nuance. (AG) Never content to stay put, Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton continue to push the envelope on quality in the Sta. Rita Hills. Over the years, Brewer and Clifton have had an enormous impact on the region, both directly and indirectly, in giving advice to newly arrived owners and developing a number of vineyards they no longer farm. The most recent development at Brewer-Clifton is a move towards working exclusively with vineyards they themselves farm, a decision that is the natural closing of a circle that started in 2011, when the winery began to focus exclusively on vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. As these notes show, the 2012s are pretty special across the board. Readers will note the addition of a few vineyards to the lineup, including Acin and Hapgood. The Chardonnays are rich and textured in style, with considerable transparency and impeccable balance. All of the Brewer-Clifton Pinots are made with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak. (AG)