2020 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir 459 Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 has a medium ruby-purple color and an alluring blend of deep red and blue fruit: boysenberry, dried cranberry and dried red cherries open with time to cola, lemon peel and black tea. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with bursting red fruit character and a juicy, citrus-laced finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 is similarly ruby/translucent in color yet has a more fruit-forward bouquet of ripe strawberries, red plums, forest floor, and exotic flowers, with just a kiss of background iron and marine-like nuances, which is classic Sta. Rita Hills. Nicely structured on the palate, with medium-bodied richness, it has ripe yet firm tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's pure class. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade. Enough can’t be said about the quality that’s consistently delivered by Greg Brewer’s Brewer-Clifton releases. As always, these wines are basically harvested all at the same time (by vineyard) and are not destemmed, with the aging occurring all in old barrels. The goal here is to show the difference between the vineyards, and I think he succeeds admirably.
The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 is intensely savory and brooding in this vintage. Dark fruit, tobacco, incense and dried herbs emerge with some coaxing, but only reluctantly. Time brings out a slightly more elegant, nuanced side to the 459. It will be interesting to see where things ultimately settle. Readers should plan on giving this a few years to soften.