January 31, 2024 - Upon revisiting the 2016 Liquid Farm La Hermana nearly three years after my initial tasting, the wine has revealed a remarkable transformation. Initially perceived as youthful and somewhat closed, even after several hours of airing, it has now matured into a beautifully balanced and expressive wine. The nose has developed significantly, where the primary aromas of apricot, pineapple, and yellow fruits have evolved into a more complex bouquet, with the emergence of secondary aromas such as paraffin and steel wool adding depth and intrigue. On the palate, the wine maintains a persistent medium plus acidity. It unfolds with flavors of yellow apples, yellow pears, and a distinct mineral undertone. This complexity is further enhanced by an improved balance where the salinity and fruit flavors intertwine seamlessly. Medium-plus length leaves a lasting impression. Today’s bottle confirms that the wine was indeed in a closed phase during the last tasting and is now drinking beautifully, with potential for further aging. This evolution is a testament to the inherent quality and aging capability of the Liquid Farm La Hermana. You can open this wine now for its current expression of balance and complexity, and for those with additional bottles, it would be worthwhile to continue aging, I think that it will only get better from here.
December 30, 2022 - Good acidity, nice yellow fruit, no flab or sweetness - very tasty and drinking well.
September 19, 2022 - WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of paraffin, yellow apples and steel wool. Flavors of yellow apples, yellow pears and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, full bodied. Drink over the short term.
August 1, 2022 - Really coming together, open nose of citrus with some minerality, medium weight similar flavors with great concentration and balance which carries through to the medium plus finish. Very French style for a Cali chard. Lovely.
May 3, 2022 - Unripe pineapple and green apple acidity add complexity to this minerally Chablis lookalike. Crisp and zippy, yet just enough fruit to flesh out the crystalline structure, this asks for oysters or a seafood platter. We served with white asparagus, maitake mushroom aioli, and smoked sturgeon. Perfect.
March 12, 2021 - No formal tasting note on this except to say that I really think that the La Hermana greatly benefits from a good amount of aging. This felt way too young to me and actually felt quite closed even after a few hours of air. I would hold onto these and revisit in a couple of years. La Hermana is probably one of my favorite LF wines...but it's in an awkward place right now.
January 21, 2021 - Wonderful freshness, yellow apple, lemon, and mineral/sea air. A beautiful food wine with perfect acidity on the finish. Easy to love and briskly consume. A lovely domestic Chardonnay!
January 11, 2021 - Apple and tropical fruits along with some reduced mineral notes. Bright and energetic with a long finish. More full and up front than any LF I can remember.
July 22, 2020 - Fantiastic. Very bright.
June 10, 2020 - Medium yellow. Delightful crispness - lemon, whiff of pineapple, hint of lime, just a touch of honey-butter richness. Absence of oak makes enjoyable to drink.