2010 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Mount Carmel

The 2010 Pinot Noir Mount Carmel is gorgeous. A burst of dark red fruit makes a positive first impression, but everything about the 2010 speaks of balance. The use of whole clusters is not as evident here as elsewhere. Layers of flavors continue to flesh out on the broad-shouldered frame. The Mt. Carmel is a wine of exceptional balance and pure pedigree. It is easily one of the highlights among the new releases. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. Steve Clifton describes the 2010 harvest as 2-3 weeks later than normal. The Pinots were brought in during the second and third weeks of September, in between the heat spikes, while the Chardonnays were harvested later, once temperatures cooled off . The 2010s are beautiful, transparent wines that capture the essence of the vintage and their respective sites. The single-vineyard wines can be hard to track down, but to tell the truth, I am increasingly drawn to the straight appellation Chardonnay and Pinot, as they are less expensive, relatively easy to find and full of personality. Tel. (805) 735-9184; www.brewerclifton.com