Wines

95 Points! This is a old Champagne with an almost earthy profile, offering culatello , candied lemon, a lot of winter apple and restrained viennoiserie. Super fine, pinprick mousse with relaxing yet refreshing acidity, medium body, evolved flavors such as zabaglione and a long, nutty aftertaste. Slightly off dry. Drink now. - James Suckling

94 Points! Exhales stunning aromas of lemon, menthol, white flowers and orchard fruits. Tense and very fine, the palate is medium-bodied, with a perfectly layered structure and a delicate, saline, mineral finish. The aromas of Moka coffee and pastry are particularly elegant on the aftertaste. Dosage of 6 g/L, and a blend of 65% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier and 15% Pinot Noir. - Decanter Magazine

90 Points! An elegant style, with lime sorbet, quince, Fuji apple and lemon zest, plus a touch of lemon basil, all on a sleek and juicy frame that lingers. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! Such an elegant wine for this Grand Cru that tends towards aromatic richness, the pineapple and basil notes very delicate on the nose. On the medium-to full-bodied palate there’s more succulence, but even there the crushed-stone minerality keeps everything very cool and straight. Very long, focused finish with so great vitality and very fine tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! So much candied citrus, angelica, dried sage and thyme in the nose! However, this compact and highly structured Alsace Grand Cru dry riesling is still very youthful and really needs a lot of aeration (decanting and big glasses!) to open it up. Stunning complexity of fruit, herbal and mineral character at the imposing yet very cool finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. - JamesSuckling.com

95+ Points! The 2022 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo bursts from the glass with a wave of smokey crushed stones, fennel, sage and incense. This is soothingly round and supple with a balanced inner sweetness contrasted by depths of mineral-intense orchard fruits. The 2022 takes on a nearly salty sensation, displaying hints of sesame seed and clove while finishing gently tannic and long. A tart, citrusy concentration puckers the cheeks. The complexities within are off the charts. This is a perfect marriage of vintage and the Amorotti style. Wow. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

90 Points! Supple and vibrant, with aromatic orange blossom, peach and cantaloupe accents that glide on the finish. Drink now. - Wine Spectator

90 Points! A fresh and fruity white with aromas of sliced apples, fresh pears, lemons and peach pits. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a clean, bright palate. Juicy peach notes. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! The 2019 Chardonnay Bennett Valley waltzes out with alluring notes of fresh apricots, honeydew melon, and grapefruit, with hints of orange blossom and powdered ginger. The medium-bodied palate is tight-knit and elegant, with a seamless backbone and loads of savory nuances to accent the stone fruit layers, finishing long with a spicy kick. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

90 Points! Truth in advertising, the 2022 Skin Contact Chenin Blanc offers a fresh and leesy expression with notes of yellow apples and hints of arugula and lemon skin. Medium to full-bodied, the palate displays surprising depth and a pleasing texture. The wine ends with a spicy, mineral-laced finish and a lingering kiss of phenolic bitterness. - Anthony Mueller, robertparker.com

95 Points! Very striking nose of orange blossoms and chamomile. Very juicy and well rounded, but with a fantastic vitality that’s underlined by the touch of bitterness that adds to the excitement in the dynamic and precise finish. A blend of wines from the lower, middle and upper sections of this site with limestone, sandstone and clay soils. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Billecart-Salmon’s 2012 Nicolas François marks the first release since 2008 and stands as another success. The fundamentals remain unchanged: settling and fermentation at low temperatures, a small proportion vinified in oak barrels and partial malolactic fermentation (20% was blocked in 2012). This vintage was characterized by a prolonged flowering period, significant rainfall and mildew pressure, resulting in a small crop. The harvest of fruit, which contributed to this cuvée, took place between September 17 and 22. "It was crucial to select only the ripest fruit, as maturation varied significantly between plots," explains Billecart’s head winemaker, Florent Nys. But what of the wine itself? Disgorged in May 2023 with a dosage of 3.8 grams per liter, it exudes aromas of candied lemon, honeysuckle and ripe peach, mingling with nuances of beeswax and orange zest. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and enveloping, boasting a layered, concentrated core, a chalky structure and mouthwatering acidity, despite the warm vintage. It concludes with a persistent, saline finish, hinting at the savory complexity that has emerged with such notable bottle age. Compared to the 2008, which remains tightly coiled, the 2012 is broader-shouldered and more demonstrative. - Kristaps Karklins, robertparker.com

90 Points! The 2020 Saar Riesling Kabinett Ayler Kupp opens with clear and quite intense, elegant fruit intertwined with crushed slate aromas; it's less reductive or stinky on the nose than the Mosel Kabinett siblings from the Himmelreich and Würzgarten. Supple and round, with vibrantly fresh acidity but also palatable residual sugar, this is a charming and pleasing but less exciting or mind-blowing Kabinett with an aromatic and piquant finish. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted from AP 138 21 in November 2021. - Stephan Reinhardt, robertparker.com

95 Points! Cool, herbal and flinty, this reminds me of high-end Chablis on the nose. Striking blood-orange freshness on the well-structured, sleek palate. Great length and purity to the compact finish. Minimal sulphites added. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Medium-rich in style (92 g/l residual sugar), the grapes for this wine originate from Calheta on the warmer south coast of Madeira. Mid-amber hue with gently smoked, yet rich savoury-spicy aromas – quite seductive and evocative. Lovely Elvas plum and quince marmalade richness with a spicy backdrop, balanced by fresh appley acidity. The long finish is akin to a gently cinnamon-spiced tarte tatin. Shows great complexity for a colheita. Glorious with savoury patés and stands up well to a curry, though equally good with caramelised oranges or a hedonistic slice of fruit cake mid-morning. - 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.

95+ Points! Fruit selection for this wine casts a wider net in the celebrated Vorbeg vineyard that also fuels the exceptional Rarity bottling. This 52-hectare site has incredibly steep (70%) inclines at 450 to 650 meters above sea level with south and southwestern exposures. The 2022 Alto Adige Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg is a creamy, mid-weight expression from a warm and dry vintage. The wine offers pretty aromatic highlights of melon, Golden Delicious apple, pie crust and crushed oystershell. This is a beautiful and more accessible taste of the best of Alto Adige. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

94 Points! Fairly neutral with vibrant apricot fruit, aromatic herbs and a touch of almonds. Tight and tense acidity on the medium-bodied palate, tingling and electric. The citrusy finish is long and salty. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

90 Points! A tangy and fragrant white that has aromas of orange rind, chamomile, thyme and sliced pear. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and zesty. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com