Crushed flowers, autumn leaves, hard candy, spices and sweet red cherries float out of the glass in the 2010 Pinot Noir 3-D. There is a lovely element of earthiness to the 3-D, while high-toned, floral aromatics add lift and brightness on the vibrant finish. The stem character is a bit pronounced at this stage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.
Steve Clifton describes the 2010 harvest as 2-3 weeks later than normal. The Pinots were brought in during the second and third weeks of September, in between the heat spikes, while the Chardonnays were harvested later, once temperatures cooled off . The 2010s are beautiful, transparent wines that capture the essence of the vintage and their respective sites. The single-vineyard wines can be hard to track down, but to tell the truth, I am increasingly drawn to the straight appellation Chardonnay and Pinot, as they are less expensive, relatively easy to find and full of personality.
Tel. (805) 735-9184; www.brewerclifton.com