TN: 2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope

WINE TALK
1
  • 2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope - USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills (4/19/2014)
    PnP. Light yellow, clean citrus nose. Smooth mouthfeel with some glycerine. Crisp flavor with saline on the finish. this should cellar well for several more years. VERY GOOD.

Posted from CellarTracker

2

This is drinking good. Probably in the sweet spot now, too.

  • 2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope - USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills (10/30/2016)
    From mag, been open about a day. Drinking the leftovers–it sat overnight in the fridge under open cork with about 2 glasses left in it. Several cool things going on here. The palate has a bitter note, like a citrus/lemon skin. Also juicy yellow apple, lemon peel and some vanilla shadings. Finishes with the same lemon and apple tones, spicy and flinty finish. Enough acid here to keep this lively and with the slate note, this drinks great now and probably is entering a peak place, given the vintage and the smooth (but lively) nature of the wine.

Posted from CellarTracker

3

My favorite of the 3 Chards from LF in 2011, fantastic stuff. Great note, Frank.

4

Hey Frank, haven’t had this vintage of LF but am curious why you found a bitter note compelling.

I enjoy things like green olives, Fernet Branca, etc but bitterness in wine always feels misplaced to my palate.

5

Rama, if you can find the 2011 LF White Hill, that is a helluva wine, at least it has rung my bell the 2X I have had it. A really distinct and spot on version of Chard.

As to the bitter note, when I write TNs, I just try and find the word that resonates for me. In this instance, bitter popped into my dome. Think of it like lime flesh, the segments and juice that comes out of those portions of that fruit.

6

Pithy… which by definition is bitter.

But Rama’ s comment brings up a great point about what is “bitter”? It’s broad and very palate specific. Often a negative connotation.

Good bitter or bad bitter flavor?

Lime juice

Coffee

Lemon pith

Dark chocolate

Grape stem

Broccoli


All are bitter and everyone has an opinion whether that type of bitter is good and especially in your wine.

BTW the '11 LF WH is awesome.

7
  • 2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope - USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills (4/26/2017)
    Popped and poured just below cellar temp. Light lemon yellow hue, complex aromas of flint, citrus zest, orange blossom, under-ripened stone fruits, white pepper and hints of vegetal funk. Definitely veering towards tertiary on the nose. Flavors of lemon, green apple and an impression of stoney minerals are complimented by a smooth, silky mouthfeel that’s contrasted by moderate-plus acidity to create an exhilarating sense of tension. In an amazing place right now, perhaps even peaking.

Probably my favorite wine ever from Liquid Farm, such a great example of CA Chard. My last bottle will be consumed within the next 1-2 years.

8

How in hell did you get a 2011 to survive til now? My wife is like the shark and LF is chum in our house

9

Haha Chris, good question – the answer:

I’m divorced!

Aside from that, I bought 3 of these on release and immediately reloaded with another 3 because I liked it so much. Now I’m down to 1 more of each 2011 (GS, WH & Four). Actually, that might make for a good Wine Night theme sometime in the near future…

10

It is tasty. I still have 2012 remaining in the cellar. It is easy to hold on to, when you have too much wine.

11

Wow, a blast from the past. Liquid Farm was all the rage on this board several years ago, but I don’t hear much on them these days. Are folks continuing to buy their wines?

12

Definitely! Great deals on both Beserker Day and the member releases, which carry no obligation. I skip some releases and modify others. They are a great winery, the wines are beautiful and the staff offer impeccable customer service.

Cheers,
Warren

13

I REALLY enjoy LF wines and I try to buy at least 6 every offering even though I have no place to put them. I guess that means I get to drink them!! [cheers.gif]

14

I have several bottles of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. I buy some each berserker day.

15

I usually purchase a case an a half a year between the club and berserker day. I have 2 2010’s (GS and WH) remaining and 2 2011’s remaining (WH) Trying to wait for 2020 for the 10 GS, which is my favorite of the group.

16

Is it similar at all in profile to any of the Varner Chards?

17

To each their own. I pretty openly say that I make wines for Negroni drinkers and can’t imagine producing wines that didn’t have some aspect of bitterness to them.

Also, after 25 years of cellaring wine, I will admit that fruit can last a long time but I don’t think it gets a whole lot more compelling. From my experience, wines with bitter components in their youth often become the most complex and compelling as they age.