Recently Rated Brewer-Clifton Wines

The Brewer-Clifton team farms and manages five vineyards near the winery in Sta. Rita Hills, from which they use all the grapes, along with working with other growers in the appellation. Their Pinot Noir sites include Machado and 3-D (which provide the grapes for the Sta. Rita Hills bottling) and Hapgood, which is new as a single-vineyard bottling in the 2012 vintage. They also make a four-barrel bottling from the little-known Pinot Noir clone 459, grown at Machado. Here are ratings of their 2012 bottlings.

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Machado 2012
Score: 94
Release Price: $74
Rich and ripe, this combines firm, dense red and dark berry fruit with pretty floral and spicy notes that gain depth, hold focus and offer persistence on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 675 cases made. —James Laube
Region: Santa Barbara, California
Issue: Nov. 15, 2014

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 3-D 2012
Score: 93
Release Price: $80
Trim and snappy, with firm acidity and tannins amid the delicate plum, wilted rose and black cherry flavors, ending with a touch of black tea spiciness. Drink now through 2023. 436 cases made. —James Laube
Region: Santa Barbara, California
Issue: Nov. 15, 2014

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 459 2012
Score: 92
Release Price: $90
Refined and restrained, this is fairly tight and trim, with understated plum, blackberry and raspberry notes, ending with red candy and candied apple spiciness. Drink now through 2023. 96 cases made. —James Laube
Region: Santa Barbara, California
Issue: Nov. 15, 2014

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Hapgood 2012
Score: 92
Release Price: $84
Aromas of fresh raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry are intense, snappy and vibrant, with zesty acidity, firm tannins and a stemmy edge that keeps the flavors on the palate. Drink now through 2023. 219 cases made. —James Laube
Region: Santa Barbara, California
Issue: Nov. 15, 2014