For nearly three decades, Brewer-Clifton has been fashioning stellar wines from Santa Barbara County, winning awards, accolades, and the hearts of wine enthusiasts across the world. The single-vineyard wines are produced in extremely small quantities and sell out in short order. However, we were able to secure wine before other retailers knew this had been released, so today, we're offering this Pinot Noir that received a fantastic 96-point score!
The geographic, geologic, and climatic uniqueness of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation provides an ideal place to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes of intensity, complexity, and specificity. Within this appellation, each vineyard carries its own imprint. The mission at Brewer-Clifton, and indeed their passion, is to present wines that convey the characteristics inherent to each of these sites, with uncompromising quality.
Brewer-Clifton focuses on estate grown grapes, yet they do buy fruit from one neighboring property, and that would be the Machado Vineyard. Located smack dab in the middle of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, this property's sandy loam soils give a perfumed bouquet to the wines while maintaining freshness. Greg has complete control over all the farming on their 15-acre parcel, and he works to achieve a natural balance between the site, the vines, the aspect and the microclimates in each vineyard, using sustainable and/or organic farming methods whenever possible.
Greg has been named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, and respected wine critic Jeb Dunnuck has stated that these are, "some of the finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays coming out of California today".
And just what does Jeb and other critics state about this current release? Well...
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Based on 100% Pinot Noir that was not destemmed and was aged 15 months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Pinot Noir Machado offers Bing cherries, red plums, candied violets, peppery herbs, and incense. It's medium to full-bodied, has a broad, layered mouthfeel, ripe, velvety tannins, and blockbuster length. It's a big, rich, opulent beauty that does everything right. I doubt it's for the low alcohol crowd (it's 15%), but it's a brilliant, singular Pinot Noir that has so much character, as well as a decade of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2035."
WINE SPECTATOR 96 POINTS - "This brims with succulent blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry fruit flavors that are coiled with energy, while singed mesquite, blood orange zest, black tea and dried anise accents add fuel on the lengthy finish. Rock solid. Best from 2026 through 2038."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95+ POINTS - "Greg Brewer is one of the leading figures in the Sta. Rita Hills, yet his sense of childlike enthusiasm for his craft is as fresh and inspiring as ever. Brewer and Assistant Winemaker Sharde Shepherd presented a set of exquisite, site-transparent 2023s."
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Machado has a beautifully expressive nose but is undeniably coiled up on the palate, a trait that likely bodes very well for the future. This is a very serious wine that's firmly planted in its nascent, primary phase. A well of complexity and structure resides beneath the top layers of clear, bright red berry fruit and savory herbs. Give this a few years for those deeper nuances to emerge, then reap the rewards. The 2023 is hugely promising."
The geographic, geologic, and climatic uniqueness of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation provides an ideal place to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes of intensity, complexity, and specificity. Within this appellation, each vineyard carries its own imprint. The mission at Brewer-Clifton, and indeed their passion, is to present wines that convey the characteristics inherent to each of these sites, with uncompromising quality.
Brewer-Clifton focuses on estate grown grapes, yet they do buy fruit from one neighboring property, and that would be the Machado Vineyard. Located smack dab in the middle of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, this property's sandy loam soils give a perfumed bouquet to the wines while maintaining freshness. Greg has complete control over all the farming on their 15-acre parcel, and he works to achieve a natural balance between the site, the vines, the aspect and the microclimates in each vineyard, using sustainable and/or organic farming methods whenever possible.
Greg has been named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, and respected wine critic Jeb Dunnuck has stated that these are, "some of the finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays coming out of California today".
And just what does Jeb and other critics state about this current release? Well...
- Jeb Dunnuck rated this at 96 points! He says this has a "blockbuster length", and "it's a brilliant, singular Pinot Noir".
- Wine Spectator also rated this at 96 points and notes the wine "brims with succulent blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry fruit flavors".
- Billy Norris of Vinous Media rated this 95+ points and writes of its "beautifully expressive nose", with notes of "bright red berry fruit and savory herbs".
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "Based on 100% Pinot Noir that was not destemmed and was aged 15 months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Pinot Noir Machado offers Bing cherries, red plums, candied violets, peppery herbs, and incense. It's medium to full-bodied, has a broad, layered mouthfeel, ripe, velvety tannins, and blockbuster length. It's a big, rich, opulent beauty that does everything right. I doubt it's for the low alcohol crowd (it's 15%), but it's a brilliant, singular Pinot Noir that has so much character, as well as a decade of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2035."
WINE SPECTATOR 96 POINTS - "This brims with succulent blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry fruit flavors that are coiled with energy, while singed mesquite, blood orange zest, black tea and dried anise accents add fuel on the lengthy finish. Rock solid. Best from 2026 through 2038."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95+ POINTS - "Greg Brewer is one of the leading figures in the Sta. Rita Hills, yet his sense of childlike enthusiasm for his craft is as fresh and inspiring as ever. Brewer and Assistant Winemaker Sharde Shepherd presented a set of exquisite, site-transparent 2023s."
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Machado has a beautifully expressive nose but is undeniably coiled up on the palate, a trait that likely bodes very well for the future. This is a very serious wine that's firmly planted in its nascent, primary phase. A well of complexity and structure resides beneath the top layers of clear, bright red berry fruit and savory herbs. Give this a few years for those deeper nuances to emerge, then reap the rewards. The 2023 is hugely promising."
