2020 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Machado
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Tasting notes
Medium ruby, the 2020 Pinot Noir Machado is scented of pomegranate and blueberry with tones of aniseed, prosciutto, bergamot and cracked pepper. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with concentrated fruits and lots of layers across the finish. It feels a bit wound and fruit-forward at this early stage and will benefit from a few more years in bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Lastly, the 2020 Pinot Noir Machado oozes Sta. Rita Hills notes of mulled red and black fruits, loamy soil, iron, and assorted marine-like nuances. This rich, medium to full-bodied, brilliantly concentrated, and textured beauty has ripe tannins, an expansive, mouth-filling, gorgeous balance, and a great finish. Picking a favorite between these single vineyards is just about impossible, so you can't go wrong with any of these. Enough can’t be said about the quality that’s consistently delivered by Greg Brewer’s Brewer-Clifton releases. As always, these wines are basically harvested all at the same time (by vineyard) and are not destemmed, with the aging occurring all in old barrels. The goal here is to show the difference between the vineyards, and I think he succeeds admirably.
The 2020 Chardonnay Machado is a wine of tension and energy. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, chalk and crushed rocks race across the palate, showing remarkable depth that only continues to build over time. This is another seriously impressive Chardonnay from Greg Brewer.