Lemon rind, raw hazelnut, crisp gala apple. Citrus blossom, salted cashew, bosc pear. Dried straw and peach pit, mango peel and a hint of struck match. Marine minerality supporting savory nuttiness with just a dash of fruit. Think mixed nuts and fresh croissants for lunch on a stroll through a coastal hillside orchard. This 2015 Golden Slope Chardonnay by Liquid Farm is Santa Barbara's brilliant ode to Burgundy's Côte-d'Or.

It's no surprise that the best Chardonnay in the world comes from Burgundy, France. The varietal is native to this region and is perfectly suited to its climate and terroir. Outside of Burgundy there are a handful of regions that also produce world-class Chardonnay and Santa Barbara is quietly emerging as one of them. The cool climate, diatomaceous soils, and sweeping fog of the Santa Rita Hills AVA provides an ideal environment for Chardonnay to achieve phenolic ripeness while retaining vivacious acidity. This wine, produced by the Chardonnay royalty known as Liquid Farm, may be one of the best examples of the varietal to come out of Santa Barbara county. Sourced from a few select vineyards and then blended based on purposeful barrel selection, this stuff bears more than a passing resemblance to the wines of Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. If you're looking for old-world poise on a new-world budget you must give the wines of Liquid Farm a try.