95pts Jeb Dunnuck

Aged nine months in 100% neutral oak barrels, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers crushed citrus, oyster shell, white flowers, and a kiss of salty minerality. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. As I've written many times, this appellation release can stand toe to toe with any Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County.

94pts James Suckling

Flint and seashells set the stage for a vibrant, tactile chardonnay with pears, bruised apples and almond skin, a coiled pulse of acidity running through the finish.

93pts Wine Spectator

Shows harmony and intensity, with focused flavors of tangerine, Meyer lemon, lime and pomelo that are lovely at the core, plus aromatic notes of lemongrass, lemon thyme and oregano. A fresh thread of acidity and details of Himalayan sea salt gain momentum on the finish.

92pts Vinous

The 2023 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is a blend of all the sites Brewer-Clifton works with. Crystal-clear, energetic and vibrant, the 2023 possesses an undeniable sense of place that is particularly impressive for an entry-level wine. Sea spray, lemon oil, ripe golden apple and spice gain intensity on the wide, supple close. This is beautifully persistent from start to finish.

92pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

An impressive overview of the region, the 2023 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers a quintessential, refined and precise expression of the house style. It showcases a more polished, slightly honeyed side of Brewer-Clifton, concluding with a harmonious, succulent finish that lingers with the region's signature saline-laced minerality.

Winemaker's Notes

This bottling is comprised Chardonnay from four vineyards within the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune vineyards all contribute to the wine which exhibits a drive, richness and pedigree expressive of our special growing area coupled with the purity of fruit and firm structure which have been the trademark of Brewer-Clifton.

Aromas of lemon, kiwi, orange blossom, and sweet basil with notes of jasmine, lime ginger and minerality on the palate.

About the Area

One of the coolest climates on the west coast, Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County enjoys the longest growing season, making this a paradise for pinot noir and chardonnay. The quality of the vineyards and grapes grown here is rivaled only by the absolute beauty of the region itself. The unique transverse valleys funnel maritime influences through a small appellation filled with with variations in soil, aspect and micro-climates to produce sites of character and distinction. We are incredibly fortunate to work and farm in this exceptional winegrowing region, unlike any other in the world.