2023 Brewer Clifton - Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

Greg Brewer's path to winemaking began unconventionally, teaching French at UC Santa Barbara before training in wine production at Santa Barbara Winery starting in 1991. He founded Brewer-Clifton with original partner Steve Clifton in 1996, and has spent his entire career devoted to the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, which he helped map and formally establish. That dedication earned him recognition as Wine Enthusiast's 2020 Winemaker of the Year, and he has since expanded his portfolio with the Diatom and Ex Post Facto labels alongside his ongoing work at Brewer-Clifton.

This appellation-level bottling draws on four distinct vineyards within Sta. Rita Hills: 3D, Machado, Hapgood, and Perilune, each fermented and handled separately before blending to capture a fuller picture of the region. The 2023 vintage was made without destemming and aged entirely in neutral oak barrels, an approach meant to preserve purity of fruit and structure rather than layering on new oak character. Roughly 8,475 cases were produced.

The wine shows aromas of pomegranate, white tea, and raspberry, with flavors of dried fig, white truffle, and ripe cherry rounding out a savory, rooibos-tinged palate. Vibrant acidity and lively floral notes give it real energy and drive. Pair it with grilled octopus, herb-roasted turkey, or a savory mushroom galette.