Brewer-Clifton Brewer-Clifton Machado Pinot Noir 2018 750ml

The 2018 Pinot Noir Machado is pure class, showing beautiful purity of fruit as well as classic Sta. Rita Hills complexity and spice. Lots of raspberry, strawberry, spring flowers, forest floor, spice, and just a touch of seaside-like iodine all emerge from the glass. It’s a wonderfully complete, balanced, seamless 2018 that does everything right.

Joyous and aromatically arresting scents of creamy black cherry, black raspberry, licorice and black cardamom grab hold of the nose and don’t waver on this bottling. Deep and dark fruit flavors mix with hints of dank herb, tarragon and even cannabis on the palate, where the acidity is penetrating and persistent.

Complex, with lithe minerality and rich savoriness to the concentrated raspberry, red plum and currant flavors, backed by crunchy acidity. Delicate and well-spiced on the pure-tasting finish. Drink now through 2026. 676 cases made.

A powerful, intense wine, the 2018 Pinot Noir Machado has a lot of depth, but it is also not ready to show all its cards yet. Potent tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit, leather, menthol and tobacco. The Machado is a wine of real substance, but it will be a few years before the 2018 is at its most expressive and rewarding to drink.