Years ago I was at a great wine event and ran into Liquid Farm founder Jeff Nelson. He talked about his wine background and his itch to start his own winery. I’ve really enjoyed visiting his winery in Santa Barbara. Jeff is an unassuming, down to earth guy that is passionate about old world wines. Jeff formerly worked many years for top Champagne houses and finally got the nerve to start his own winery, taking a Burgundian approach to new world Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
He crafts some incredible Chardonnay wines and originally Jeff only wanted to make Chardonnay but he has focused some of his attention to crafting great Pinot Noir as well. We are all very glad that he has done that.
The wines are sourced from some of the most esteemed vineyards throughout the county. Liquid Farm has gained a nationwide reputation for top notch Rose. His 2018 Liquid Farm ‘Dandi’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) is marvelously fresh with an inviting texture. Even better was the 2018 Liquid Farm ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is Santa Barbara Chardonnay at its finest with the wine’s incredible brightness and salinity. This is truly one for the cellar. Learn more about this great boutique Santa Barbara County winer at http://www.liquidfarm.com/ Here are the beautiful new wines by Liquid Farm.
2018 Liquid Farm ‘Dandi’ Sauvignon Blanc- Sourced from the Central Coast AVA, the perfumed wine is highly inviting with its pretty sour lemon candy and orange blossom tones that combine with flinty undertones on the nose. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a great sense of weight. Gunmetal and cantaloupe flavors mingle with Meyer lemon zest, saline drenched Japanese pear and wet stone tones on the palate. With great length, this outstanding wine will cellar well for at least another five to seven years. Drink 2020-2025- 91
2018 Liquid Farm ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay- The ‘White Hill’ Chardonnay is Liquid Farm’s ‘Chablisesque’ bottling, sourced from several sites in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Aged for eleven months in neutral oak before bottling, the terroir-driven Chardonnay shows wonderfully flinty tones on the nose with shades of Meyer lemon oil diatomaceous soils and shades of baking spices and wild mushroom that all march in unison in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a silly texture. The length of the wine is truly astounding with its minute-long finish that does not stop. Do not miss out on this silky, highly Burgundian bottling that will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 95
2018 Liquid Farm ‘Golden Slope’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Golden Slope’ is another stunning new wine by Liquid Farm that is their tribute to Mersault. Showing off a more golden hue than the ‘White Hill’ bottling, this takes the lead with incredible aromatic range from allspice drenched pears to ripe banana and dried mango alongside the salty terroir. The mouthfeel and elegance of this wine is nothing short of incredible. Rich orchard fruits collide with lemon oil, white truffle shavings and exotic spices on the palate. The minute-long finish provides the perfect crescendo. Sensational in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for decades. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Liquid Farm ‘SBC’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from several sites throughout Santa Barbara County, this shows off very perfumed red fruits that mingle with tones of red rose petal, wet stone and orange rind on this beautiful bouquet. The palate is plush, showing a seamless texture and great sense of mouthfeel. Velvety tannins line the core of guava puree, cran-orange and wild strawberry with nice black tea and salty terroir. Complex, layered and truly delicious now at the four year mark, this outstanding new wine will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more to come. Drink 2020-2033- 93