2021 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Perilune Sta. Rita Hills
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The 2021 Chardonnay Perilune is a new wine in the range from a development in the northern part of the Sta. Rita Hills. Soft, open-knit and very pretty, the 2021 is an impressive wine for a vineyard in its first release. Apricot, white flowers, tangerine oil and light tropical notes all run through the Perilune. I imagine this wine will only get more complex as the vines age. The clones here are Wente and Robert Young.
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Jancis Robinson MW
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A new wine from a site in the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2021 Chardonnay Perilune is similarly medium gold-hued, with more bass notes of stone fruits, buttered nuts, white flowers, and crushed stone. One of the more powerful, opulent, full-bodied whites in the lineup, it brings beautiful richness and depth, a layered, mouth-filling texture, and a great finish. As usual with Greg’s wines, these wines are not destemmed and are brought up all in neutral barrels. Most of the Chardonnays check in around 14% alcohol, with the Pinot Noirs between 14%-14.5%, and they all have singular characters as well as a decade of longevity at a minimum. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better lineup of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from anyone in California.
Whole-cluster-pressed to neutral barrels, with no racking or bâtonnage. Scents of white flowers and citrus pith. Bright citrus-pith and pastry-cream flavours have a wonderful filigreed acidity. Stony quality at the core, with a faint citrus-peel bitterness in the finish. (AY)