Brewer-Clifton started life back in 1996 by Steve Clifton and Greg Brewer. Greg is a lean, hyperactive former competitive cyclist and Steve seems much more like a surfer than an oenologist with a far more laid back approach. They bang on a lot about their unique location not to mention their huge respect for nature, the essence of their vineyards, the unique climate of the Santa Rita Hills making it suitable for the high intensity, high acidity wines it produces from both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Their mission is to present wines that convey the characteristics inherent to each of their vineyard sites, with uncompromising quality.

This Chardonnay is complimentary to many other styles of Chardonnay on the market today. Remove the dairy, remove the oak and what do you have, a clean, fresh, mineral and vibrant style with acute acidity and taut character. A Diatom is a small ancient crustaceans which forms the basis of many of the limestone soils found widely around the world. Combine this soil, with a lack of oak barrels and blocked malolactic conversion to give us a wine that stands naked and transparent in front of you whilst remaining rich enough to compliment your lobster or foie gras.

Tasting Note:
The Diatom 2021 Chardonnay is a stunning wine from acclaimed winemaker Greg Brewer. Stunning in its depth and intensity, this bright and minerally, with plenty of citrus and floral character, but also a good amount of refinement and textural depth to keep the wine in perfect balance. Give the wine time in the glass to brings out the hidden layers underneath and to show its full potential. As always, the style here favors clean fruit, cold ferments, blocked malolactic conversion and very short aging in stainless steel prior to bottling. This is a luxurious wine, without the fat, or price tag.