2015 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

Not much seems to have changed at Brewer-Clifton following its acquisition by Jackson Family Wines. Greg Brewer is now fully in charge of making the wines, while Steve Clifton has moved on to his own brands, but the wines are still made pretty much as they always have been, with some small refinements that are natural in the course of any winemaker's evolution. Both the Chardonnays and the Pinots seem to be a bit fresher in style than in the past, which is attributable to a number of factors including picking a bit earlier than was once the norm. Readers will note that the Chardonnay range is now focused on just two vineyard designates plus the appellation wine. The Chardonnays are fermented in neutral oak, with no lees stirring, in a cold cellar that naturally inhibits malolactic fermentation. As always, the Pinots see long macerations, with 100% whole clusters for the vineyard designates and aging in neutral oak.