White
Brewer Clifton Diatom Chardonnay 2020
£34.95
Why Mark chose this
Diatom is Greg Brewer's stripped-back, purity-focused Chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills, one of California's best spots for the variety. The philosophy is deliberate restraint, no heavy oak, no overworking, just the fruit and the place. It received outstanding scores on release and the 2020 vintage is particularly fine, with real tension and depth. If you are used to white Burgundy and want to see what California can do on the same terms, this is worth trying.
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Best for
- Wine lovers
- Special occasion whites
- California Chardonnay sceptics
- Style
- Pure and focused, with bright citrus, stone fruit and a long, mineral finish
- Food match
- Works well with roast chicken, grilled halibut, creamy pasta and good soft cheeses.
- Drink
- Drinking well now and will hold comfortably for another three to four years.
Tasting Notes
With Diatom, Winemaker Greg Brewer seeks to capture Chardonnay in its most pure and unadulterated state. Diatom is named for diatomaceous earth, which is a plankton fossil found in the oceanic landscape of Santa Barbara County. Diatom is motivated by the pursuit of subtraction and refinement. It is the polishing of a grain of rice until one has reached its ultimate inner core. Our Sta. Rita Hills marine landscape is stark and so are the wines of its provenance. We strive for a recognition of place with as little disturbance, distraction or interference as possible. The resulting wines have a sense of transparency and a purity of intent and purpose. 96 points Vinous Outer quote mark The 2020 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is outrageously beautiful. In fact, it is one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Greg Brewer. Rich and textured in the glass, with plenty of bright acids, the 2020 is wonderfully alive. Greg Brewer has done a tremendous job in crafting a Chardonnay that is both texturally deep and intense. In 2020, facing a lack of visibility in the market because of COVID-19, Brewer-Clifton bottled just a fraction of their appellation Chardonnay, freeing up a number of top sites that Greg Brewer was able to access for Diatom. The 2020 is simply magnificent. (AG) Inner quote mark (10/2021)
- Country
- USA
- Region
- California
- Grape
- Chardonnay
- Vintage
- 2020
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Vol.
- 750ml