The 2019 Chardonnay 3D is a fabulous Chardonnay that captures the magic of the Sta. Rita Hills. Rich and expansive on the palate, the 2019 is laced with apricot, tangerine oil, butter and tropical fruit. The 2019 gets better and better in the glass as the layers start to flesh out.
The 2018 Syrah Tepusquet is without question the finest wine I have tasted from Cambria under the direction of Jill Russell. Dark and sensual in the glass, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and power, but with tannins that are almost impossibly elegant. Black plum, chocolate, lavender and spice all build in the glass. Syrah can be magical in Santa Maria, as it is here. The 2018 spent 15 months in French oak, 30% new.
The 2018 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard Signature Collection emerges from the estate's oldest vines planted in 1971. Rich and oily in the glass, the 2018 possesses tremendous character as well as nuance. Lemon confit, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes open beautifully with a bit of aeration. A hint of reduction adds personality, but is not distracting.
The 2019 Chardonnay Machado is another dazzling wine in this range from Brewer-Clifton. The Machado is powerful and vertical in feel, with an intensely mineral/savory profile that is so distinctive. The Machado is not an obvious wine, but rather a Chardonnay that impresses with its nuance and complexity.
Dark, dense and mysterious, the 2018 Pinot Noir Barbara's Clone 667 is superb. Succulent dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and licorice build in an ample, full-bodied Pinot that is all charm. I would give the tannins a few years to soften. The 2018 is beautifully done. There is real substance and gravitas here.
The 2019 Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is fabulous. Rich and ample, the Katherine's offers striking dimension to play off its mid-weight structure. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, spice and tropical accents all meld together effortlessly. The Katherine's is a blend of various parcels and clones across the estate. This classic Santa Maria Chardonnay hits all the right notes.
The 2019 Chardonnay Hapgood offers an attractive mélange of apricot, dried almonds, chamomile and tropical fruit. In this tasting, the Hapgood stands out for its creamy, textured personality allied to clean mineral notes. All the elements are so well balanced.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Hapgood is a dense, ample wine endowed with tons of brooding power. This cool site yields a Pinot of real distinction. I would give the 2019 2-3 years to soften, as it is pretty imposing today. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice and leather open in the glass, but the Hapgood is first and foremost a Pinot of weight and resonance.
The 2019 Pinot Noir 3D is bold and savory, yet it retains the transparency that is such a signature at Brewer-Clifton. Pommard and Swan clone Pinot on sandy soils, done with 100% whole clusters, yield an effusive, aromatic Pinot that is all about lift and perfume. This is such a gorgeous and distinctive wine.
The 2018 Pinot Noir Julia's Signature Collection is 100% Clone 23 fermented in barrel. Succulent black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and licorice fill out the layers effortlessly. The 2018 offers tons of depth as well as character.
The 2019 Syrah, from Bar M in Los Alamos, is elegant, perfumed and deep. Black cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, cedar and dried herbs fill out the layers. Wonderfully aromatic and savory, the 2019 has so much to offer. The 100% whole clusters feel especially well balanced here. This soft, open-knit Syrah will be ready to go with another year or two in bottle.
The 2019 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is outrageously beautiful. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, mint and light tropical character all grace the 2019. Bright saline accents play off the creamy fruit in a Chardonnay that dazzles from start to finish. All the best qualities of the year come through loud and clear.
The 2019 Pinot Noir 459 is intensely aromatic and ethereal in feel. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint and dried herbs all open in the glass. Silky tannins give this mid-weight Pinot tons of sensuality and appeal to balance some of its more eccentric leanings.
The 2019 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard is a beautiful wine that balances varietal character with notable verve and freshness. Apricot, tangerine peel, mint and exotic white flowers all open nicely in this pretty inviting Viognier.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Machado is painfully inward today. Even so, there is terrific energy and purity to the red-fleshed fruit. The Machado feels just a bit compact. It will be even better than this note suggests if the fruit emerges more fully.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is an attractive, easygoing wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Silky tannins and sweet, perfumed aromatics give the 2019 much of its sheer appeal. Bright red/purplish berry fruit and spice accents linger on the soft, understated finish.
The 2019 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is bright, tense and full of energy. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and rose petal all grace the 2019. Brewer-Clifton's appellation Pinot is all charm. There is a wonderful feeling of transparency here, not to mention plenty of appeal.
This white offers plenty of buttery accents to the ripe white fruit and spice flavors. There's a toasty richness on the open-textured finish, with caramel nuances. Drink now.
In a word? Crushable. However, this nuanced, elegant pinot noir is so much more than just an easy drinker.On the nose, you are immediately hit with notes of bright, fresh, red fruits including cherry, strawberry and cranberry. As it opens up, aromas of sour cherry candy and coffee emerge.The first sips are equally full of beautiful red fruit with an immediate punch of cherry, followed by a distinct taste of baked strawberry and rhubarb. The eight months in a barrel soon become apparent, as gentle flavours of vanilla, cocoa, and coffee come through to create a mocha flavour. The mouth feel is velvety smooth and the tannins are so soft, they are hardly apparent. The long-lasting finish imparts noticeably refreshing acidity and leaves a taste of sour cherry and pomegranate. This crowd-pleasing wine is a prime example of what makes Sonoma one of the most well-respected homes of New World pinot noir. The renown and versatility of this wine make it an excellent choice for any occasion as it can be appreciated by the wine snob and the casual wine crusher alike.
A silvery minerality dominates, with fresh apple and citrus flavors moderated by light, toasty notes.
Distinctively delicious with intense flavors of grape skins, tart orange, and white-pepper spiciness in the finish.
The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is the largest production red made by La Crema, one of the boutique producers operating as part of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio. It offers appealing pure fruit flavours with subtle oak spice and a smooth, supple texture. The style is fresh and inviting. Drink now to 2024.
The Truman and Brooks names are from small Clarendon vineyard border roads and Hickinbotham 2019 Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon has 14.5% alcohol, is deep garnet and shows berry pastille aromas and vibrant blackberry front-palate flavour. The middle features Maraschino cherry, spearmint, briar and vanillin oak and a finish of chalky tannins.
This expressive, 14.5% alcohol, Hickinbotham 2019 The Revivalist Merlot shines brick red and has scents of violets. The front palate shows fleshy mulberry flavour, middle palate bramble jelly, mint, herb and mocha oak elements and a finish of earthy tannins.
With deep purple hues, 14.5% alcohol and scents of raspberry and cinnamon, the Hickinbotham 2019 Brooks Road Shiraz has intense, ripe plum front-palate flavour. The middle palate displays cassis, spice, truffle, dark chocolate and savoury oak and minty tannins play at the finish.