2013 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2013 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is a riper, richer expression than the 2012, displaying more honeysuckle, toasted spice, sautéed peach and baked apple aromatics. It offers a Meursault-like richness, toastiness, and length, but it will be interesting to see how it evolves. My money is on it evolving beautifully on its concentration, but it’s certainly a terrific drink today as well. It was easily my favorite in the lineup. This was a fabulous tasting with winemaker Greg Brewer, and both his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay showed brilliantly. While it’s easy to always focus on the single vineyard releases from a producer, this tasting shows that the appellation blends can be every bit as good. Greg’s Chardonnays are always barrel fermented and aged all in neutral oak, and his Pinot Noir see the same hands-off approach, being fermented with no destemming and aged all in neutral barrels.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is round, succulent and deeply expressive. Orange peel, butter, chamomile and apricot pit flesh out in the glass. The style is open-knit and accessible, with lovely oiliness and textural richness throughout. Vineyard sources are 3-D, Gnesa and Machado.
A solid step-up from the 2012, the 2013 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers lots golden fruits, honeysuckle, brioche and a touch of sauteed pear-like notes to go with a medium-bodied, ripe, yet balanced feel on the palate. Delicious, classic and beautifully made, this is an outstanding Chardonnay that has both freshness and texture. I'd drink it over the coming 3-4 years, but it will evolve for longer.
Very clean and fresh without a trace of sweetness nor heaviness. Really racy and delicate. Bravissimo! (JR)