2015, 2016, 2019 Liquid Farm "Bien Bien" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay & "La Hermana" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay Tasting Lot

“The 2015 Bien Bien Chardonnay delivers opulent brioche, cashews and ginger notes over a core of ripe apricots and spiced pears. Medium-bodied, with wonderful tension and beautiful poise, the youthful stunner offers satisfying intensity and depth with a lovely layered finish. (LPB) 94+” (09/2017)

“From 40-year-old vines of Bien Nacido Vineyard, this bottling offers ashy Brie rind aromas alongside lemon pith and light guava peel. Compelling tension on the palate frames the tangerine pith and Key lime flavors, which warm toward buttermilk and flint toward the finish. (MK)” (10/2019)

“The 2015 Chardonnay Bien Bien, from the famed Bien Nacido, is a rich, ample and creamy wine endowed with real depth. Shades of apricot, chamomile and floral-infused honey add intrigue throughout. The Bien Bien is tightly wound today, but it holds plenty of promise for readers who can cellar it for another year or two. (AG)” (09/2017)

“The 2015 Chardonnay Bien Bien (all from Bien Nacido and aged in 30% new French oak) offers more spice, toasted bread and orchard fruits, with lots of minerality, medium to full-bodied richness and a clean finish. It will have a decade of longevity.” (08/2017)

“The 2016 Chardonnay La Hermana offers a slightly more angular profile, yet also has more density and depth. Stone fruits, toasted nuts, crushed rocks, and brioche notes all emerge from the glass and it's beautifully balanced, has bright acidity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, classic Chardonnay that will age gracefully.” (10/2018)

“The 2016 Chardonnay La Hermana is bright, focused and tightly wound. Citrus, white flowers and crushed rocks are finely sculpted in this super-expressive Chardonnay. La Hermana is the most tense, wiry wine in the Liquid Farm range. It is also a great example of what Santa Maria Chardonnay is all about. (AG)” (09/2018)

“The 2019 Chardonnay La Hermana is a classic Santa Maria wine. Apricot, tangerine oil, mint, butter and tropical accents all come alive in the glass. In 2019, the Hermana benefits from the addition of fruit that would have been used for the Bien Bien (which was not bottled). Textured, nuanced and opulent to the core, with captivating aromatics and plenty of drive, the 2019 is a winner from Liquid Farm. (AG)” (10/2021)

“From the Santa Maria Valley, the 2019 Chardonnay La Hermana shows its own style, with more white peach and stone fruits, a fresh, focused, clean profile on the palate, and subtle floral notes that emerge with time in the glass. This is another elegant, balanced, impeccably put together Chardonnay from this team.” (08/2021)