Pale ruby with wide clear edges.  Warm, muted wet sawdust rabbit-bedding on a licorice-infused steely stemminess long on crisp ripe garam masala and short on fresh or even lively fruit.  One-dimensional dull spiced prune over-wrought and flabby.  Fruit just can NOT seem to rise up and express itself in this one despite hard-working attempts.

Burnt and tarry in the mouth with bitter tannins middle-on obscuring any attempts at brilliance imagined in the nose.  Not bland, but cooked and cloying.  A strange juxtaposition between green, tannic Oregon or Burg awkwardness and flabby California dretch.  Even late-breathing, the hyper-sarsaparilla nose never solidifies with the thin bitter mouthfeel.  Hot and awkward, drinking WAY above the stated alcohol.

2014 BREWER-CLIFTON Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Santa Ynez Valley Santa Barbara County 14.0

http://brewerclifton.com/