Winemaker Notes
When putting together the final blend for the Golden Slope, Liquid Farm is looking for barrels exhibiting a bit more richness and depth than the White Hill. Once those barrels are identified, they introduce about 15% new French Oak and age the wine for 15 months prior to bottling. The resulting wine is something that reminds them of some of their favorites from Meursault.
They have endearingly nicknamed this wine "Goldilox" because of her impeccable balance of richness and fresh acidity. She is "just right!"
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Aged 15 months in 15% new French oak, the 2018 Chardonnay Golden Slope ratchets up the richness and boasts a medium gold hue, awesome notes of caramelized orchard fruits, spicy wood, toasted bread, and almond paste. Playing in the medium to full-bodied side of the spectrum, it has juicy acidity, terrific purity, and a great finish. It's impressive today and will be impressive in 8-10 years as well.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.