The 2009 Chardonnay Mount Carmel comes across as quite intense and deep. Layers of expressive tropical fruit fill out the wine's broad shouldered frame nicely. Here too I miss some of the refinement of the best Brewer-Clifton Chardonnays. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. No one has done more to carry the banner for the Santa Rita Hills than Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton. Both together at Brewer-Clifton and separately in their other projects Brewer and Clifton consistently deliver delicious wines that are also deeply thought provoking with regards to the potential these vineyard sites hold. The Pinots in particular are compelling. The 2009 Pinots saw a seven day cold soak and fermentations that lasted a total of 35-40 days with 100% stems. -AG