Cult Quality, Without the Cult Price
Liquid Farm, founded with the intention of letting Santa Barbara terroir shine, this tiny production, cult-style winery has quickly amassed accolades in nearly every vintage. Year after year, critics and collectors alike praise these wines for their purity, precision, and sheer drinkability.
I’m thrilled to offer two of their newest releases:
2023 Liquid Farm ‘Golden Slope’ Chardonnay – Sta. Barbara County Consistently one of the most celebrated Chardonnays of the region, the Golden Slope pays homage to Burgundy while remaining distinctly Californian. Rich stone fruit, citrus oil, and a touch of hazelnut are balanced by precise minerality. Previous vintages have repeatedly earned stellar press, and the 2023 shows the same depth, vibrancy, and elegance that has made this bottling a collector favorite.
2023 Liquid Farm ‘SBC’ Pinot Noir – Sta. Rita Hills From the cool-climate vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills comes this seductive Pinot Noir, a wine that consistently garners rave reviews vintage after vintage. Bursting with dark cherry, pomegranate, and baking spice, it combines robust flavor with a silken texture and long, fresh finish. The pedigree of fruit here often rivals far more expensive wines, but Liquid Farm remains committed to accessible pricing.
Both wines embody what makes Liquid Farm so exciting: limited production, critical acclaim, and character-driven wines that dramatically over-deliver on value. They capture the essence of Santa Barbara while offering the polish and finesse of world-class winemaking.
If you’ve been seeking wines with cult-level quality but without the sky-high price tags, these releases are the perfect place to start—or to add to your cellar before they disappear.
Winery Notes from Vinous:
Owner Jeff Nelson and Winemaker James Sparks presented a series of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at Liquid Farm are as consistent as ever, as well as a compelling Grand Cru Champagne from Mesnil made as a joint venture with Champagne Pertois-Moriset. The Chardonnays are done in a richer, more forward style with plenty of site character. The Pinots show a true step forward in quality, aided in freshness by the 2023 growing season. There aren’t any misses here.
95 Points, Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Golden Slope is singing today. Powerful flavors of golden yellow apple, pineapple, chamomile, baking spices and white flowers sizzle from the glass, motivated by chalky acids and culminating in a velvety, nutty finish. This broad-shouldered Chardonnay is very much in the zone today.
94 Points, Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir SBC is open for business today. It's absolutely oozing with Sta. Rita Hills character. Spiced florals, leather, black pepper and rich raspberry fruit unfurl generously in the glass, maintaining a cool-toned character and notable precision. A bit of stems (10%) adds lift and energy throughout. You can really sink your teeth into this fleshy, textured Pinot.