2018 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Machado
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2018 Pinot Noir Machado has a medium ruby color and deep, layered aromas of pure violet, garrigue, laurel, aniseed and forest floor, seamlessly accenting a core of black and red berries. The palate is medium-bodied with loads of lift and silkiness, elegantly fruited and with a long, ethereal finish. 675 cases produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Pure lemon, honeysuckle, caramelized stone fruits, iodine, and toasted almond notes emerge from the 2018 Chardonnay Machado. This medium-bodied beauty has bright, juicy acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. As with all of Greg's wines, it's accessible today yet has another decade or prime drinking. This is another brilliant lineup from Greg Brewer, and these Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs (as well as a terrific Syrah) are up with the finest wines in this report. These wines are never shrinking violets and have loads of fruit and texture, yet they always show singular characters, stunning balance, and weightless, elegant textures that make them a joy to drink. I think they're some of the finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays coming out of California today.
A powerful, intense wine, the 2018 Pinot Noir Machado has a lot of depth, but it is also not ready to show all its cards yet. Potent tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit, leather, menthol and tobacco. The Machado is a wine of real substance, bit it will be a few years before the 2018 is at its most expressive and rewarding to drink. (AG)