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Brewer-Clifton
www.brewerclifton.com
Map location of Brewer-Clifton
Steve Clifton & Greg Brewer
Steve Clifton & Greg Brewer


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Brewer-Clifton Vineyard Sites
Map of Cargasacchi Vineyard
Map of Clos Pepe Vineyard
Map of Huber Vineyard
Map of Sea Smoke Vineyard
Brewer-Clifton Vineyard Information Sheet
Country of Origin: USA
Location: Santa Rita Hills
People: Greg Brewer & Steve Clifton, Owners & Winemakers


History: Born of an obsession with Santa Barbara County terroir, Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton formed Brewer-Clifton in the early 1990's. They both had significant sales and production experience with a multitude of Santa Barbara County wineries, and always felt compelled to push the limits of the fruit from the area further than our previous employers had set forth to do.

Vineyards: They focus efforts solely on the production of vineyard designated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from several carefully selected, extreme vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The area's long growing seasons and diversity of marine-based soils combine to produce dynamic and explosive wines with great purity and precision. Each vineyard site is nurtured identically, allowing the pedigree of place to play the most significant role. The vineyards selected for Brewer - Clifton wines represent the full range of the Sta. Rita Hills - from the furthest eastern point to the coastal vineyards to the west. Cargasacchi - two acres of a a sixteen acre clone 115 Pinot Noir vineyard planted in 1998 at Peter Cargasacchi family's ranch at the far western end of the appellation. Clos Pepe - one-acre Pinot Noir section planted in 1998 on a knoll to Pommard clone on this 30-acre site owned and farmed by Wes Hagen and the Pepe family. Rancho Santa Rosa - ambitious project (240 acres) owned by Bill Foley of Foley Estates Winery. We have gained access to two very steep one-acre parcels of Chardonnay, each limestone ridden and planted to clones 76 and 96. We also work with a steep one-acre section of Pinot Noir planted to clone 667, also in soils replete with limestone. Mount Carmel - This steep, south-facing and celestial vineyard was planted by Ron Piazza and Paul Abrecht in 1991 in accordance with a cloistered order of Carmelite nuns. There are currently 15 acres of Pinot Noir. Seasmoke - Limited chardonnay from this prestigious vineyard planted predominantly to pinot noir in the late 1990s. Three-acre parcel of dijonnaise clones 76, 95 and 96. The block is in Metz loamy sand and is situated on a small mesa immediately above the Santa Ynez river. Sweeney-Canyon - This eighteen-acre, Chardonnay vineyard was planted in 1981 by the Marks family who still own and farm it. The property is located along the Santa Ynez River

Winemaking: "It is our primary goal and priority to deliver the essence of that vineyard as clearly and honestly as possible." Brewer-Clifton wines are only available in small quantities. Total production averages between 4,000 and 6,500 cases annually. Pinot Noir is fermented 100% as whole clusters of grapes, and typically remains in fermenter for a total of 30 to 35 days - 7 days cold soak, 2 weeks of fermentation, then 10 or more days of extended maceration. From the press, the resulting wine is bucketed directly to barrel. Barrels from the Sirugue cooperage in Nuits St. Georges are exclusively used. Racking is carried out by gravity, at the beginning of the waning moon following Summer Solstice.

Brewer -Clifton is vegetarian. No egg or fish products are used.

"A benchmark estate in the Santa Rita Hills, these first rate efforts are made by Steve Clifton and Greg Brewer. The wines are all handled identically in the cellar, so what you get is exactly what the vineyard delivers. In addition, this estate is moving to only estate-farmed vineyards, with Gnesa, Machado, 3-D and Hapgood being the only single-vineyard releases going forward. These 2011s are fantastic and should not be missed!" - The Wine Advocate 8/2013

"Steve Clifton describes the 2010 harvest as 2-3 weeks later than normal. The Pinots were brought in during the second and third weeks of September, in between the heat spikes, while the Chardonnays were harvested later, once temperatures cooled off . The 2010s are beautiful, transparent wines that capture the essence of the vintage and their respective sites. The single-vineyard wines can be hard to track down, but to tell the truth, I am increasingly drawn to the straight appellation Chardonnay and Pinot, as they are less expensive, relatively easy to find and full of personality." - Wine Advocate 2012

Social Media
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Items
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Gnesa, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sweeney Canyon, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Ampelos, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Machado Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Melville Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 91

More complex, with leafy herbs, green and tropical fruit, mint and floral notes, the 2011 Chardonnay 3-D is pure, fleshy and supple in the mouth, with a great mid-palate and racy acidity defining the finish. There’s nice overall tension and energy here and it should be even better in another year. Drink 2014-2018+.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Bright gold. High-pitched aromas of pit fruits, jasmine, ginger and mace, along with a hint of iodine. Dusty, precise and silky in texture, offering lively citrus and bitter peach pit flavors and a deeper note of anise. Finishes with gentle grip, very good clarity and impressive persistence, leaving orange and floral notes behind.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Gnesa, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 91+

Coming from pure sand soils, the 2011 Chardonnay Gnesa is a pretty, mineral-driven Chardonnay that has notions of orchard and tropical fruits that veer toward the citrus end of the spectrum with air. Medium-bodied, beautifully rich, with clean, classy acidity providing edge and definition, it, too, should benefit from another 6-12 months of bottle age and have a solid evolution for a number of years. Drink 2014-2018+.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Gnesa, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Vivid gold. Potent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, ginger and white flowers. Refreshingly bitter and precise, offering pear skin and quinine flavors and a touch of anise. Closes dry and very long, with firm grip and lingering minerality. This wine is about much more than mere fruit.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

Along the same line and a classic Chardonnay that has everything you could ask for, the 2011 Chardonnay Mount Carmel comes from sandy, loamy soils and vines planted in 1992. Medium-bodied, rich and structured, with big minerality, apple, vanilla cream and hazelnut nuances, it has fantastic detail and clarity to it aromas and texture. As with the other Chardonnays from this estate, it should hit peak form in another year or so and evolve gracefully through 2018. Drink 2014-2018+.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 93

Pale yellow-gold. High-pitched aromas of green apple, lemon pith, white pepper and minerals. Sappy and powerful, with refreshingly bitter citrus and pear skin flavors enlivened by tangy acidity and a chalky mineral nuance. The vibrant, incisive finish features tangy citrus fruits and dusty minerality.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 90

A knockout Chardonnay that’s blended from multiple vineyards, the 2011 Chardonnay offers up a pure, elegant and classy profile, with plenty of white peach and citrus blossom flowing to a medium-bodied wine that has solid mid-palate richness and crisp acids. It should age gracefully for a number of years. Drink now-2016+.

A benchmark estate in the Santa Rita Hills, these first rate efforts are made by Steve Clifton and Greg Brewer. The wines are all handled identically in the cellar, so what you get is exactly what the vineyard delivers. In addition, this estate is moving to only estate-farmed vineyards, with Gnesa, Machado, 3-D and Hapgood being the only single-vineyard releases going forward. These 2011s are fantastic and should not be missed!



- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 91

Light gold. Bright, high-pitched aromas of pear, honeysuckle and ginger, complemented by a hint of nectarine. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering zesty orchard fruit and orange pith flavors and a hint of honey. Gains flesh and power with air and finishes with clinging spiciness and a late note of bitter quinine.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sweeney Canyon, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

Coming from some of the oldest Chardonnay plantings in California (planted in 1982), the 2011 Chardonnay Sweeney Canyon is flat-out gorgeous. Offering up notions of white peaches, mineral, dried pineapple and white flowers, with a saline-like minerality coming through with air, it flows onto the palate with medium-bodied richness, impeccable balance and a great finish. While I would still error on the side of drinking it too young (i.e. over the coming 3-4 years), it should evolve gracefully well past that. Drink now-2018+.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Chardonnay, Sweeney Canyon, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Bright gold. Intense aromas of melon and yellow apple are brightened by lemon zest and floral nuances. Juicy and elegant, with powerful orange zest and orchard fruit flavors balanced by vibrant acidity. The orange note lingers on the long, sappy, very persistent finish. I really like this wine's blend of richness and vivacity.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2012)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

Brilliant ruby. Sexy strawberry, raspberry and blood orange on the nose, along with notes of Asian spices and smoky minerals. Silky and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry liqueur flavors, with energetic minerality adding vivacity. Packs a serious punch but comes off lithe and precise, with excellent finishing clarity, juiciness and persistence.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, 3-D Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 93

Showing more toast, spice and minerality, with darker cherry, underbrush and rose petal coming through with air, the 2011 Pinot Noir 3-D is medium-bodied, firm and structured, with gripping energy and tension on the finish. Really showing the vintage, with laser focus and purity, this beauty is still tight and compact; give it another 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade. Drink 2015-2025.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Ampelos, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Ruby-red. Exotic aromas of raspberry liqueur, blood orange and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy, ripe and penetrating, offering firm, spicy red berry and floral flavors and energizing acidity. Finishes fresh and firm, with suave, harmonious tannins. Bright and nervy pinot, with the backbone and depth to reward patience.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Ampelos, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92+

The last vintage that Greg and Steve will be making of this wine as they focus more on their own estate vineyards, the 2011 Pinot Noir Ampelos is a rich, layered effort that has ripe dark berry, cocoa, warm spices and autumn leaf-like qualities all emerging from the glass. This medium-bodied effort has firm underlying structure and solid focus through the finish and it should age nicely on its overall balance. Drink 2015-2021.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Machado Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

Brilliant ruby-red. Assertively perfumed black raspberry and cherry-cola aromas accented by notes of potpourri and star anise. Broad and rich but with impressive lift and nerve to its red fruit liqueur flavors. Finishes silky and extremely long, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a hint of candied flowers.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Machado Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

From deep clay and sandy soils planted completely by the Brewer-Clifton team and located just behind the Kessler-Hawk vineyard, the 2011 Pinot Noir Machado dishes out gorgeous red fruits, spice and crushed flower-like qualities that flow to a structured, ripe and yet elegant Pinot that needs bottle time to round into form. Give it another 2-3 years and enjoy through 2026. Drink 2015-2026.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Melville Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 93

Bright ruby. Musky, highly perfumed aromas of fresh cherry, floral oils and Asian spices. Precise and lithe, with intense, vibrant cherry and black raspberry flavors enlivened by sappy minerality and a sexy floral element. Suave, juicy pinot, with strong finishing persistence and lift.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 94

Vivid ruby-red. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet displays vibrant red berry, blood orange and floral scents, along with wild notes of passion fruit and Asian spices. Smooth, palate-staining raspberry and cherry-cola flavors show superb clarity and power, picking up rose pastille and spicecake flavors with aeration. Closes with outstanding clarity and length, with silky tannins building and adding grip.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Mount Carmel, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 95

The 2011 Pinot Noir Mount Carmel is a spectacular effort that delivers beautiful raspberry, strawberry, sappy underbrush, sea breeze and spice to go with a medium-bodied, rich and elegant palate. Knockout stuff that’s perfectly balanced and rich, without ever losing any focus or precision, it will evolve for 4-5 years and drink nicely through 2026. Drink now-2026.

- The Wine Advocate (8/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Deep, bright-rimmed red. Vibrant raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by Asian spice and candied floral qualities. Offers sappy red berry and bitter cherry flavors that are enlivened by white pepper and rose nuances. The long, spicy finish features silky tannins, a hint of blood orange and slow-building florality.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Brewer-Clifton 2011 Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills
Rating: 92

Starting off the reds, and a blend of multiple vineyards (mostly Machado), the stunning 2011 Pinot Noir dishes out meaty, mineral-laced aromas and flavors of black cherries, underbrush, rose petal, mint and sappy, flower garden-like qualities. Perfumed, supple and gorgeously perfumed, it’s an elegant, layered Pinot that will evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade or more. Drink now-2021+.

- The Wine Advocate (8/29/2013)