Name: Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2023 750ml
Brand: Brewer-Clifton
SKU: 1003259
Price: 41.22 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 93 (6 reviews)

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Winery

Brewer-Clifton

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Varietal

Chardonnay

Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one that has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is Chardonnay. This green-skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity, which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

California

California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.

Appellation

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is home to many of California's most sought after wines, with a powerful reputation for superbly crafted, old world style big, flavorful and complex red wines. The white wine industry in the region is growing, too, with many wineries within Santa Barbara successfully experimenting with several classic white wine grape varietals. As in much of California, Santa Barbara benefits from the blazing west coast sunshine, coupled with cooling Pacific Ocean breezes and fogs, which help to temper the grapes and slow the ripening process, thus ensuring more flavor and aroma in the resulting wines. Although Santa Barbara is a relatively young wine region, it is home to many wineries who are extremely dedicated when it comes to demonstrating just how good their terroir is, and how characterful their region's wines can be.

JD 95pts

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. Drink 2025-2035.

JS 94pts

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. Drink or hold.

WS 93pts

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. Drink now.

WA 92pts

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.

VM 92pts

Vinous Media

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.

WE 92pts

Wine Enthusiast

Wet riverstone and lime pith aromas meet with a light dairy element on the nose of this bottling. The palate is very grippy in texture, framing apricot and nectarine flavors that lead into a citrus pith finish.

Winery Notes

This elegant white wine exhibits aromas of lemon, kiwi, orange blossom, and sweet basil. Jasmine, lime, ginger and minerality are balanced on the palate by notes of orange zest and fresh sea salt.

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Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2023 750ml