Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton wines released two wines recently from
his Diaton project. The 2011 Hana Shinbu and 2011 Hamon Chardonnays.
These are tank fermented, see no wood at all and are very minamalist
in there handling. Hard to describe these wines but they bear very
little resemblence to any chardonnay that I've ever had before. Hana
Shinobu shows a saline character with lime, grapefruit and mineral
notes that reminds me more of Sake than Chardonnay. Quite lean and
precise. The Hamon was slightly heavier with pronounced citrus peel,
mandarin orange and slightly floral. These wines were more like
Sauvingon Blanc than chardonnay.