2020 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)

There’s not much to report at Brewer-Clifton, other than the wines are once again stellar. In 2020, the Chardonnays are especially of note, but I also loved the appellation Pinot. Greg Brewer noted that the timing of weather events was more favorable for Chardonnay overall. The wines are done with the same minimalist aesthetic as always, which means a lot of whole cluster for the Pinots, aging in neutral oak and no racking until bottling. At the end of the tasting, Brewer poured the 2009 Chardonnay Gnesa and 3D Pinot, two wines I tasted on my first visit to Brewer-Clifton over a decade ago. It was so interesting to revisit those wines. I thought the Gnesa was especially fine, yet another data point as to how special Chardonnay can be in the Sta. Rita Hills.