The 2022 Pinot Noir Hapgood is a classic Brewer-Clifton wine. It offers gorgeous red cherry fruit and a decidedly spicy, exotic quality from the whole clusters. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, cinnamon and dried flowers linger. This cold site on sandy soils is so distinctive, as are the wines it yields.

The flagship wine of Stonestreet. The nose is complex and delicate, with an underlying power displaying aromas of dark cherries, blood plums, graphite and sage. The palate is seamless and tight, with silky smooth tannins, bright acidity and a long, lingering finish carrying notes of blackberry compote, graphite, pomegranates and tobacco leaves. Grown at 730 meters on volcanic soil. Drink or hold.

The nose shows aromas of lemon pith, orange zest and jasmine. The palate is full-bodied and textured, with bright acid and a long, lingering finish that has notes of honeydew melon, green papayas, red apples and flint. Powerful with restraint. Grown at 550 meters in vineyards planted in 1982. Drink or hold.

This red shows a balance of power and restraint, with aromas of black cherries, dark chocolate, coffee and cloves. The palate is full-bodied, showing fine tannins and acid with lingering notes of blackcurrants, cured meat, earth and tomato bush. Grown at 670 meters on volcanic quartz soil. Drink or hold.

The aromas are rustic and savory, with dark fruit, brambles, dark chocolate and thyme. The palate is full-bodied with silky yet firm tannins, bright acidity and layers of blackcurrants, charcuterie, graphite and sage. Very good. Single vineyard grown at 600 meters on a southeast-facing slope. Drink or hold.

The 2022 Chardonnay Perilune is a big step up from the 2021. At this stage, one year makes a huge
difference for a vineyard that was planted so recently (2017). Airy, bright and chiseled, the 2022 has a
ton to offer. This is an especially taut, sculpted style for Brewer-Clifton.

The nose shows aromas of blackcurrants, herb tea, violets and charcuterie. The palate is full-bodied and complex, with finely integrated tannins, bright acidity and secondary notes of red currants, tea leaves, red peppercorns and tobacco. Grown on volcanic quartz. Drink or hold.

The nose displays aromas of blueberries, red currants, tomato bush and licorice. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, fresh acidity and notes of plums, cedar, tobacco and cassia bark. A single vineyard at 300 meters grown on terraces. Drink or hold.

A floral and lifted nose showing lemon balm, orange blossoms and green papayas. The palate is round and textured, with fine acidity, creaminess and notes of grapefruit, mandarins and creme brulee. Grown at 260 meters. Drink or hold.

Deeply scented and dark-fruited, showing aromas of black fruit, spices and tobacco. The palate is tightly bound, with a full body and firm tannins, displaying notes of blackberries, blood plums, sage and spices. Organically farmed for 20 years. Drink or hold.

Perfumed and lifted with underlying notes of dark fruit, bramble berries, tea leaves and spices. The palate is full-bodied with a profound tannin profile, showing notes of dark cherries, stewed plums, cedar and tobacco. Very grippy and drying. Needs some time in the bottle. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.

The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is a total stunner. Bright, aromatic and vibrant, the 2023 is lights-out, brilliantly marrying the fruit intensity and energy. Apricot, mint and white flowers abound. This is a stunning wine for the price and for its production of around 40,000 cases. All of this fruit is from Mission Hills in Los Alamos.

The 2022 Chardonnay Hapgood is gorgeous. Bright, floral and effusive, the 2022 is impressive. It offers a captivating grip of nervous tension but also a good bit of body. Citrus confit, white flowers, tangerine oil and spice linger. This is impeccably done.

The 2022 Chardonnay 3D is a wine of real density and power. Wente and Mount Eden clone Chardonnay are so distinctive here. Apricot, white flowers, marzipan, mint and light tropical inflections build into the huge, enveloping finish.

The 2022 Chardonnay Fogtide is done entirely in tank, an approach that works especially well here. There’s natural richness and concentration, all of which comes from the age of these old vines planted in 1917. Blocked malolactic fermentation is another choice that paid off here. Citrus peel, crushed rocks, white pepper and slate linger.

The 2022 Chardonnay West Point is another very pretty wine in this range. Fermentation and aging in barrel yielded a creamy, open-knit Chardonnay that is all class. Hints of apricot, chamomile, pastry and light oak inflections build effortlessly. This is classic Santa Maria Chardonnay.

The 2022 Chardonnay Katherine’s Vineyard Signature Collection is a pretty potent, tightly wound wine, perhaps because of its relatively recent bottling. Crushed rocks, white pepper, slate, citrus peel and strong mineral accents race out of the glass. About 60% of the malolactic fermentation was blocked, which results in a very steely, reticent Chardonnay that needs time to be at its best.

Bright purple fruit with lifted notes of bramble berries, violets and bergamot. The palate is full-bodied with chewy tannins, a lush mouthfeel, fine acidity and notes of dark plums, cocoa, sage and red peppercorns. A blend of multiple blocks made up of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaill amounts of petit verdot, merlot and malbec. Drink or hold.

Vibrant nose with notes of blackcurrants, cassia bark and cloves. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins and bright acidity, showing notes of blackberries, cedar and spices. Drink or hold.

A single-vineyard wine with aromas of blackberries, mocha and coffee. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins and acidity and notes of blackcurrant compote, chocolate and dried herbs. Very powerful. Drink or hold.

The 2022 Pinot Noir 3D opens with captivating aromatics. Crushed flowers, sweet red-toned fruit, rose petal, mint and blood orange all grace the bouquet. The purity of the fruit is compelling, while stem inclusion (always very high here) is barely evident.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Barbara’s Clone 667 shows an earthier profile of Pinot. Dried leaves, mint, cedar, tobacco and crushed red berry fruit open nicely in the glass. This is an especially savory Santa Maria Pinot with a lot of nuance, but the fruit is pushed more into the background.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Mesa Terrace is bright, high-toned and vibrant in the glass. Crushed flowers, mint, spice, dried herbs and clean mineral notes all run through this nervy, expressive Pinot. There’s terrific energy and verve here.

The nose is rich and powerful, with notes of preserved lemons, apricots, nectarines and flint. The palate is full-bodied and textured, with bright acidity and fresh notes of lemon curd, lime zest and biscuits. Made from multiple vineyards on this mountain estate with an average vine age of 25 years. Drink or hold.

The 2022 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is everything an appellation-level wine should be: attractive, inviting and easy to drink. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, white flowers, orange peel and exotic spice overtones are beautifully lifted throughout.