Wines

92 Points! The 2015 Grand Cru Furstentum Pinot Gris is clear and discreet yet deep and, in a subtle ways, intense on the nose that intermingles iodine notes with ripe and elegant seed fruit aromas. Fresh and lively on the palate, this is a round and juicy Pinot Gris with an uplifting savoriness and salinity on the finely grippy and persistent finish. Grapefruit bitters on the aftertaste. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in February 2023. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

96 Points! The 2019 Riesling Schoenenbourg Grand Cru is from a fully south-facing, mid-slope parcel in the center of Schoenenbourg. The vines are 30 to 60 years old. The soil is marl with high gypsum content, partially laced with Triassic sandstone and limestone. Apricot skin and crushed yarrow give a savory first notion on the nose. On the palate, juicy plum takes over, but that textural sense of apricot skin remains, along with a herbal smoothness that is almost creamy and deeply salty amidst its fruitiness. Surprisingly, this wine manages to hide 12 g/L of residual sweetness in its beautiful depth of fruit, in its smooth, gentle, buffered flow, backed by textural finesse. Totally resonant, with sumptuous flavors but a svelte form. Wow. - Anne Krehbiel MW, Vinous Media

Supple, tangy and fresh. Pure Chardonnay grown in southeast-facing estate vineyard (lieu-dit) ‘Plantelonge,’ just east of villages-level vineyard ‘Les Pierres’ in Chassagne-Montrachet.

97 Points! The nose of this very beautiful Corton-Charlemagne transports me to an Alpine meadow, when all the wild flowers are blossoming. I love the restrained, citrusy richness that is effortlessly interwoven with the stony minerality on the medium- to full-bodied palate of this graceful, yet highly-structured wine. Still quite tight at the very salty finish, but so much to give. From a 3.65 hectare plot at the very top of the hill of Corton, directly below the forest with a yellow mark soil. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

From the importer: Calcareous sandy soils are also part of the Arneis matrix of high quality and expected lift for a variety that struggles in heavy soils or when overplayed in the cellar with too much hand in the wine—inert vessels, like stainless steel, serve Arneis well. At Brandini, the golden Arneis berries are whole cluster pressed and naturally ferment between 12-18C (lower temps at the beginning and end, with the highest in the middle of the one-week fermentation); the lowering of temperature (rather than thumping the wine with sulfites) prohibits malolactic fermentation. Stirred a few times during aging to bring a little more texture to the body and highlight the floral elements, the wine is fined and filtered prior to bottling.

Not too often you get a sub-$20 Chardonnay from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in America!

Wheeler Vineyard’s Chardonnay was planted in 1977 on elevated gravelly alluvial terrace. It is located in Tres Pinos.  Kevin Olson Vineyard is one of the coldest vineyards in California. This is where we get the nice acid backbone in the wine. It is located right off Highway 101 in Prunedale, and grows in sandy soils. It was planted in 1999. Wheeler Vineyard and Kevin Olson Vineyard are organically farmed.

92 Points! This marvelously incisive Pouilly-Fuissé is a blend of two parcels in Vergisson with two different soil types; both are cool terroirs that bring an exotic tropical note of passionfruit and pomelo to the wine along with a strong mineral underpinning. The texture has a lively acidity, but there is real ripeness to give the wines a delicious dynamic balance. The grapes are pressed as whole clusters, and the juice is fermented in older oak casks. - Decanter Magazine

95 Points! 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. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! 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. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

From the winery: 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.

3D The primary emphasis of the predominantly sandy 10 acre vineyard is chardonnay, with five clones planted. In addition to chardonnay, there is a smaller field of pinot noir planted to Swan, Pommard and 667 clones.

MACHADO 15 acre parcel on the Machado family land is located adjacent to Clos Pepe and immediately behind the Kessler-Haak vineyard. The site is marked by a gorgeous rolling terrain with sandy clay loam soils.

HAPGOOD In slightly richer soil, the vineyard is planted to the Mount Eden selection of chardonnay. The elevated clay loam content results in larger volume and a more dense palate expression. Our most recent installation, planted in 2010, is this small 2 1/2 acre section of pinot noir planted to Merry Edwards clone.

Only neutral barrels are employed. We strive for whole cluster fermentation. We farm with a focus of ripening the stems alongside the fruit, allowing the cluster to be in harmony. Working with the stems allows for wines that are structured, earthy and balanced with our beautiful Sta. Rita Hills fruit.

93 Points! Cool and elegant, yet juicy and wonderfully fresh, this medium-bodied gruner vetliner has the garden herb and celery aromas of the grape. As lightly as this skips over the palate, and as crisp as it is in the finish, there’s very good substance here. It should stay fresh for quite a few years. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap. - JamesSuckling.com

92-94 Points! A benchmark for the appellation, Lorenzon's 2020 Montagny 1er Cru Le Choix du Roi offers up notions of Meyer lemon, warm bread, beeswax and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless and precise palate that's weightless but intense, with a compelling sense of completeness and a long, saline finish. This will be worth a special effort to seek out. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

91-93 Points! Scents of freshly baked bread, crisp orchard fruit, orange oil and green mango introduce the 2020 Montagny 1er Cru Les Truffières, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled wine that's taut, penetrating and intense, exhibiting striking purity and persistence. I suspect it will emerge as the finest Truffières Lorenzon has produced to date. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

94+ Points! Disgorged in May 2022, the Paillard NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is superbly fresh, offering up aromas of orchard fruit, lemon, spring flowers and menthol touches. Medium to full-bodied, expressive and precise with a delicate mousse, it’s seamless, vinous, chalky and harmonious with a clean and precise finish. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

94 Points! Freshly squeezed lemon, green apples, oyster shell and white apricots with subtle brioche and exquisite yeastiness. A fruity entry followed by a medium to full body where you find the fine perlage carrying the intense chalky flavors to a nicely dry but approachable finish. Lovely length with spot-on balance between chalky fruit and autolysis. Disgorged in March 2022. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

From the importer: The Vieilles Vignes fruit comes from (a combined half hectare total) Les Malpoiriers and Les Pellans lieu-dits. The Meursault planted vines range in age of 80-85 years of age and the wine is aged 1 year in barrel, 25% of which is new oak. Fantastic wine with a long traditionally Meursault finish, with richness and vibrancy you would expect from such old vines.

From a .44-hectare plot near the edge of Meursault in the lieu-dit Sous le Chemin. Average vine age of 45 years. Clay-limestone soil. Hand-harvested grapes. Vinified and matured for 8-12 months in 350L barrels.

From select parcels around Meursault. Vines trained Cordon de Royat. Soil worked with a plow. Hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard with special vibrating table. Gentle pressing. Transfer to fermentation done by gravity. Aged in neutral barrels.