tldr: still going strong, this wine has another 7-10 years in it at least - will be interesting to see what develops. good structure, decent complexity, great counterplay of acid/fruit/body/alcohol. enjoyable on its own or with food. personally i liked it more somewhat chilled before nearing room temp. Color: medium gold Nose: fragrant but singular; fresh citrus and grassy Body: med+ Acid: high enough to keep this otherwise big wine in check/balance Alcohol: 14% - makes itself known Palate: a bit racy with the alcohol, improves with air; citrus rind, juicy yellow apple, crisp minerality; still all very fresh; slight oak to round things
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I found this Chard to be a amazing after 10 years in the bottle. Still seemed young to me. The layers and acid and balance were all there. Paired it with, of all things, chicken livers. It was bang on. This ‘09 is drinking very well. If you can find some, get some as it’s aging very nicely. Santa Rita Hills !!
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Rich, fatty texture with tons of elegant colza flowers accompanied by butterscotch and lovely razor sharp minerals emerging after some time in the glass. Actually this effort gives a rather youngish impression despite its age and it also has a rather elegant approach. Yes, there is power but there is also refinement - perhaps a result of very gentle oak treatment. The palate adds nicely to this first impression with balance and integration as keywords. Everything is in place here and nothing is over the top. Acidity is perhaps a bit more forward compared to the other components. The wine drinks lovely at present and I would say it is hitting its prime drinking window. Length on the finish lasts some 35-40 seconds. Vert nice indeed!
Tasted in a flight with 2009, 2012 and 2015 Brewer-Clifton S:ta Rita Hills Chardonnay.
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Well matured new world chardonnay. The acidity is not as high as I hoped, and I therefore suggest drinking the rest of the bottles now. It has some nice nutty notes on top of light honey and good fruit. Quite well balanced, but could use some more acidity. Enjoyable wine to drink in the sun, while eating salmon or chicken.
3 bottles tried, which all showed very similarly.
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(Pre-New Year's Lobsterfest with H, M and the Kens.) Still in its infancy, likely with at least another 7-8 years left. Champagne yellow in the glass with nice legs. Lemon zest and petrol in the nose, with Meyer lemon, distilled pineapple, quince and stream-side pebbles on the palate. Finishes light with some vague popcorn notes and a dash of sea salt. L picked up almond biscotti in the finish (brilliant!). Overall, delicious.
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It's a very nice wine with a lot of complex notes of tropical fruits. I just hope they are paying attention to the complaints about the seal on the cork. It's awful. Really no way to remove it. If you go through it, which seems to be the best alternative, you still get pieces of plastic in the wine which you have to pick out -- very frustrating and annoying. It's a shame for such a nice wine to be diminished by the packaging. I would never serve this wine to guests unless I opened it ahead of time and decanted it -- not practical at all.
Med yellow. Nose is toasty and nutty, not much fruit. The palate is the same with some apple fruit on the mid palate. A touch of bitterness and tannin on the finish. Lacking fruit and disappointing.
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Glad I gave this some time to flesh out. At first it was a bit one-note and gummy, but with time the flinty and citrus notes really took off. Such a great value from California.
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Excellent, as always. On the nose, pineapple, melon and wet rock. Flavors of pineapple, melon, peach and green apple lead to a flinty finish -- tart and refreshing enough to leave you wanting the next sip. Great.
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This wine has evolved for the better. The first of my six bottles was too acidic. The citrus is still there, but adds to the experience now rather than overwhelming everything. Has an unusual array of other flavors......perhaps some pineapple. Wish I was good enough to identify all of them. Good wine for those that do not like overly buttery chardonnays.
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beautiful straw color...unripe pineapple, green apple and subtle hint of verbena give way to minerality, stoniness and toasted oak on the nose...surprisingly well balanced acidity and fruit with a rather elegant full/long finish...new world style with old world restraint...great wine for the $...btw, the plastic capsule really isn't a problem and does provide a further layer of protection, simply pretend it's not there, the top piece covering the cork will pop off after the corkscrew penetrates the wax into the cork
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Similar as before, big acid attack. More yellow apple, young lemon, and papaya. Seems to have a revolving complexity, but lacks that harmonious punch. 89
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Another great bottle of this. On the nose, lovely tropical aromas of pineapple and white peach, with a distinct note of wet rock and minerals. On the palate, an explosion of flavor -- pineapple and papaya -- with a hint of creme brulee and nutmeg. Mouthfilling, yet with bracing acidity -- a very difficult trick to pull off.
As a note -- to all those complaining about the wax capsule, simply put your corkscrew through the top and operate as you would any bottle with the capsule removed. Works every time. The "effort" will be rewarded with this particular wine.
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The other comments about the rubber/plastic cap cover are right on. The cap is so hard to get off that it makes the whole experience with the wine not worth it. Wine is pretty good (I guess). I have one more bottle left but shy away from it because of the difficulty in opening.
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med yellow. Dark for a 2009. Served quite cold. Very bright nose.. perhaps some alcohol. Interesting apple and lemon fruit in nose and palate. Minerally and fresh but not comfortable in the mouth. Will last.
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First off, this wax cap is a pain in the butt. Once you get past that, wine is a bright goldenrod hue. Nose of lemon and hay. Salted lemon and saline body (think salted Jolly Rancher). Not very complex, but the expression has serious volume. Short, tart, bright acidity at finish with green apple. 88/B = 50/5/11/7/8/7
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Acidity predominates, then grapefruit and apple with a smoky finish. Overall likeable, but a little simple (and highly acidic). Also a little "hot" for my taste.
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I've "suffered" this wine twice in the last 10 days. Both times (& in different settings) the wine was angular, hot and simplistic. And both times the same rubbery, wax-like capsule. I've learned 2 things: 1) you can drive a corkscrew directly through the fake wax, and 2) the first bottle couldn't be explained away as a bad bottle ... they were both disappointing.
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Lemon yellow color, long legs suggesting high alcohol (and it was at 14%). Tropical fruit and yellow apples on the nose. On the palate the acidity feels a little hars, but nice fruit. Oak is well intergrated and the wine has a smokey finnish. Somehow the wine does not feel balanced. With some air and with food (panfried sole), the wine shows a completely new face, balanced and mellow. I will leave a bottle for a few years as i think this will age gracefully.
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Hate those stupid wax covered corks!!!! Had to chip it off and the pieces flew all over the place. Almost sliced off my finger. Well balanced Chardonnay. Definite acidity but balanced with a nice citrus flavor. Oaky with a hint of lemon. Not great but a notch above others at this price.
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Who on earth came up with this plastic rubbery seal that has to be cut, hacked, sawed and chipped to get off??? Absolutely last time I'll buy this again. By the time I got to tast the wine I was soo pissed off. Acidity, yes. Too much. More like a Pinot Grigio than a Cal Chard. Bummer. I'll buy some more Talbott Sleepy Hollow.
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A typical Brewer-Clifton effort, the 2009 Santa Rita Hills is a truly elegant effort and also well balanced. The most striking feature is the lovely acidity which is perfectly combined to the tones of peach, lemon and summer meadows. Overall impression is very positive.
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Straw yellow with med-lite viscosity in the glass. Brett (brie cheese), carmel and tropical fruit on the nose. Medium body with round, oily chutney, wheat grass, stone fruit and pear on the palate. Chalky tartness. Very good balance and mouth feel. Medium finish.
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Not a huge Cali Chard consumer. No formal tasting notes as this was popped & poured outside without appropriate chill. Considering this, my impression was "somewhat flat" & one dimensional. I will give my other bottle better treatment, but if it is anything like this one, I will not buy again even at $26/btl. Take it for what its worth.
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11/22/2020 - dlowrey99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
tldr: still going strong, this wine has another 7-10 years in it at least - will be interesting to see what develops. good structure, decent complexity, great counterplay of acid/fruit/body/alcohol. enjoyable on its own or with food. personally i liked it more somewhat chilled before nearing room temp.
Color: medium gold
Nose: fragrant but singular; fresh citrus and grassy
Body: med+
Acid: high enough to keep this otherwise big wine in check/balance
Alcohol: 14% - makes itself known
Palate: a bit racy with the alcohol, improves with air; citrus rind, juicy yellow apple, crisp minerality; still all very fresh; slight oak to round things
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4/17/2019 - Kayeman100 wrote: 90 Points
I found this Chard to be a amazing after 10 years in the bottle. Still seemed young to me. The layers and acid and balance were all there. Paired it with, of all things, chicken livers. It was bang on. This ‘09 is drinking very well. If you can find some, get some as it’s aging very nicely. Santa Rita Hills !!
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5/4/2017 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, fatty texture with tons of elegant colza flowers accompanied by butterscotch and lovely razor sharp minerals emerging after some time in the glass. Actually this effort gives a rather youngish impression despite its age and it also has a rather elegant approach. Yes, there is power but there is also refinement - perhaps a result of very gentle oak treatment. The palate adds nicely to this first impression with balance and integration as keywords. Everything is in place here and nothing is over the top. Acidity is perhaps a bit more forward compared to the other components. The wine drinks lovely at present and I would say it is hitting its prime drinking window. Length on the finish lasts some 35-40 seconds. Vert nice indeed!
Tasted in a flight with 2009, 2012 and 2015 Brewer-Clifton S:ta Rita Hills Chardonnay.
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6/11/2016 - BilboBaggins wrote: 91 Points
Well matured new world chardonnay. The acidity is not as high as I hoped, and I therefore suggest drinking the rest of the bottles now. It has some nice nutty notes on top of light honey and good fruit. Quite well balanced, but could use some more acidity. Enjoyable wine to drink in the sun, while eating salmon or chicken.
3 bottles tried, which all showed very similarly.
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10/18/2015 - mgstull Likes this wine: 87 Points
Mid yellow. Lemon, gasoline, apple, and wet stones on the finish. The finish is a bit clipped or this would merit a higher score.
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6/9/2015 - RAD2626 wrote: 88 Points
Good citrus and minerality. Has an In Pursuit of Balance terroir. Very nice wine at the price point.
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12/30/2014 - jonahfactor Likes this wine: 90 Points
(Pre-New Year's Lobsterfest with H, M and the Kens.) Still in its infancy, likely with at least another 7-8 years left. Champagne yellow in the glass with nice legs. Lemon zest and petrol in the nose, with Meyer lemon, distilled pineapple, quince and stream-side pebbles on the palate. Finishes light with some vague popcorn notes and a dash of sea salt. L picked up almond biscotti in the finish (brilliant!). Overall, delicious.
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8/29/2014 - ABM Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of my most favorite CA chardonnays. Excellent depth, character, and balance. Interesting fruit, good finish!
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3/24/2014 - Xfactor wrote: 89 Points
Coming around, develops better coming from the cooler side of the fridge as you approach it.
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1/3/2014 - theoves wrote: 89 Points
It's a very nice wine with a lot of complex notes of tropical fruits. I just hope they are paying attention to the complaints about the seal on the cork. It's awful. Really no way to remove it. If you go through it, which seems to be the best alternative, you still get pieces of plastic in the wine which you have to pick out -- very frustrating and annoying. It's a shame for such a nice wine to be diminished by the packaging. I would never serve this wine to guests unless I opened it ahead of time and decanted it -- not practical at all.
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9/27/2013 - KVM wrote: 86 Points
Med yellow. Nose is toasty and nutty, not much fruit. The palate is the same with some apple fruit on the mid palate. A touch of bitterness and tannin on the finish. Lacking fruit and disappointing.
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9/19/2013 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Glad I gave this some time to flesh out. At first it was a bit one-note and gummy, but with time the flinty and citrus notes really took off. Such a great value from California.
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8/18/2013 - Hugo and Ines wrote: 89 Points
Tropical notes with hints of banana, pineapple and peach. Round and lush but with well inter grated oak.
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6/29/2013 - JOJ wrote: 93 Points
Excellent, as always. On the nose, pineapple, melon and wet rock. Flavors of pineapple, melon, peach and green apple lead to a flinty finish -- tart and refreshing enough to leave you wanting the next sip. Great.
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6/26/2013 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine has evolved for the better. The first of my six bottles was too acidic. The citrus is still there, but adds to the experience now rather than overwhelming everything. Has an unusual array of other flavors......perhaps some pineapple. Wish I was good enough to identify all of them. Good wine for those that do not like overly buttery chardonnays.
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6/25/2013 - BUBBA DAWG Likes this wine: 91 Points
beautiful straw color...unripe pineapple, green apple and subtle hint of verbena give way to minerality, stoniness and toasted oak on the nose...surprisingly well balanced acidity and fruit with a rather elegant full/long finish...new world style with old world restraint...great wine for the $...btw, the plastic capsule really isn't a problem and does provide a further layer of protection, simply pretend it's not there, the top piece covering the cork will pop off after the corkscrew penetrates the wax into the cork
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5/19/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 89 Points
Similar as before, big acid attack. More yellow apple, young lemon, and papaya. Seems to have a revolving complexity, but lacks that harmonious punch. 89
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4/28/2013 - JOJ wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle of this. On the nose, lovely tropical aromas of pineapple and white peach, with a distinct note of wet rock and minerals. On the palate, an explosion of flavor -- pineapple and papaya -- with a hint of creme brulee and nutmeg. Mouthfilling, yet with bracing acidity -- a very difficult trick to pull off.
As a note -- to all those complaining about the wax capsule, simply put your corkscrew through the top and operate as you would any bottle with the capsule removed. Works every time. The "effort" will be rewarded with this particular wine.
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3/25/2013 - Clovernook wrote: 85 Points
The other comments about the rubber/plastic cap cover are right on. The cap is so hard to get off that it makes the whole experience with the wine not worth it. Wine is pretty good (I guess). I have one more bottle left but shy away from it because of the difficulty in opening.
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1/11/2013 - KVM wrote: 89 Points
med yellow. Dark for a 2009. Served quite cold. Very bright nose.. perhaps some alcohol. Interesting apple and lemon fruit in nose and palate. Minerally and fresh but not comfortable in the mouth. Will last.
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11/24/2012 - Xfactor wrote: 88 Points
First off, this wax cap is a pain in the butt. Once you get past that, wine is a bright goldenrod hue. Nose of lemon and hay. Salted lemon and saline body (think salted Jolly Rancher). Not very complex, but the expression has serious volume. Short, tart, bright acidity at finish with green apple. 88/B = 50/5/11/7/8/7
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10/31/2012 - dbarco wrote: 85 Points
Acidity predominates, then grapefruit and apple with a smoky finish. Overall likeable, but a little simple (and highly acidic). Also a little "hot" for my taste.
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9/17/2012 - kmerriman wrote: 85 Points
I've "suffered" this wine twice in the last 10 days. Both times (& in different settings) the wine was angular, hot and simplistic. And both times the same rubbery, wax-like capsule. I've learned 2 things: 1) you can drive a corkscrew directly through the fake wax, and 2) the first bottle couldn't be explained away as a bad bottle ... they were both disappointing.
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4/13/2012 - Tom Henriksveen Likes this wine: 87 Points
Lemon yellow color, long legs suggesting high alcohol (and it was at 14%). Tropical fruit and yellow apples on the nose. On the palate the acidity feels a little hars, but nice fruit. Oak is well intergrated and the wine has a smokey finnish. Somehow the wine does not feel balanced. With some air and with food (panfried sole), the wine shows a completely new face, balanced and mellow. I will leave a bottle for a few years as i think this will age gracefully.
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4/8/2012 - DDS wine lover wrote: 88 Points
Hate those stupid wax covered corks!!!! Had to chip it off and the pieces flew all over the place. Almost sliced off my finger. Well balanced Chardonnay. Definite acidity but balanced with a nice citrus flavor. Oaky with a hint of lemon. Not great but a notch above others at this price.
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3/1/2012 - S-E wrote: 81 Points
Who on earth came up with this plastic rubbery seal that has to be cut, hacked, sawed and chipped to get off??? Absolutely last time I'll buy this again.
By the time I got to tast the wine I was soo pissed off. Acidity, yes. Too much. More like a Pinot Grigio than a Cal Chard. Bummer. I'll buy some more Talbott Sleepy Hollow.
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2/17/2012 - tp096255 wrote: 90 Points
2012 Pasadena Pinot Fest: 9.0+
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2/6/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 92 Points
A typical Brewer-Clifton effort, the 2009 Santa Rita Hills is a truly elegant effort and also well balanced. The most striking feature is the lovely acidity which is perfectly combined to the tones of peach, lemon and summer meadows. Overall impression is very positive.
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11/11/2011 - christophee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Straw yellow with med-lite viscosity in the glass. Brett (brie cheese), carmel and tropical fruit on the nose. Medium body with round, oily chutney, wheat grass, stone fruit and pear on the palate. Chalky tartness. Very good balance and mouth feel. Medium finish.
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4/25/2011 - gbbwino wrote: 87 Points
Not a huge Cali Chard consumer. No formal tasting notes as this was popped & poured outside without appropriate chill. Considering this, my impression was "somewhat flat" & one dimensional. I will give my other bottle better treatment, but if it is anything like this one, I will not buy again even at $26/btl. Take it for what its worth.
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4/23/2011 - mbell3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A good, solid, "typical" chardonnay. Nothing too special, but a solid buy and good value.
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