Notes From The Winemaker:
This cuvee is a blend of young-vine blocks from our multiple Sonoma Coast appellation sources. A product of the same kid-glove winemaking as our vineyard designated Pinots, the 2009 Sonoma Coast is aged in French oak, about 20% new. The nose offers a complex fusion of sweet almond, rose petals, and marzipan which underscore the classic aromas of cherry and cola. Smooth tannins and a resiny mouthfeel give structure to the fresh berry palate.
800 cases produced
Founded in 1998, FAILLA is the project of winemaker Ehren Jordan and his wife Anne-Marie Failla. Failla is dedicated to sourcing cool climate fruit from the coastal areas of California and making wine using traditional Burgundian methods. Ehren began his debut in the California wine industry in 1994, followed by a sojourn to Burgundy. Upon his return and after many years of making wines for both Neyers Vineyards and Turley Wine Cellars, Ehren decided to lay down his own bricks and mortar. During 2004, 10 acres of land was purchased on the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley, complete with a vintage yellow farm house and 1800's stone winery. The parcel bares a five acre apple orchard destined to be replaced by vines. In addition to renovating the existing facility, a nearly 12,000 square foot, bi-level fermentation room featuring gravity-flow wine movement is under-way.
Ratings & Reviews
92 Points & "Editor's Choice" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2009 vintage):
"With its spicy, wild berry and pine notes, this Pinot bears Failla’s distinctive mark. It’s a dry, complex and exotic young wine, brisk in acidity and wonderfully silky and elegant in the mouth. If you’re into flavor identifiers, they’re wild raspberries and cherries. Good price for a fine Failla wine. Best now and for the next six years." — S.H. (6/1/2011)
90+ Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (2009 vintage):
"Medium red. Aromas of blackberry, cherry, violet, pepper and spices, plus a meaty nuance. Then ripe but dry and quite closed; there's good energy here but also a high-pH mouth feel to the blackberry-dominated fruit. Finishes with a broad dusting of tannins. Very young today, but does it have the depth for an even higher score with more time in bottle?" - Josh
Raynolds (May/June '11)
90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2009 vintage):
"The outstanding 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast exhibits abundant notes of wild berry mountain fruit, loamy earth, herbs and sweet black cherries. Deep and elegant with a broad, savory mouthfeel as well as impressive purity, it should drink well for 6-8 years.
This is the well-run wine operation of long-time veteran winemaker, sidekick and assistant winemaker at Turley Cellars in Calistoga, Ehren Jordan, who produces cool climate reds and whites that have benefitted from the cooler than normal year of 2009. These are minimally oaked efforts and, given Jordan’s love of France, readers should not be surprised to find that they possess Francophile-like personalities. However, the rich, pure, ripe fruit of California has not been compromised. Failla’s Pinot Noir program is growing by leaps and bounds and currently eight separate Pinots are offered. Jordan intends to keep the new oak to 33% or less and, if possible, prefers to use 100% whole clusters (meaning 100% stems) and bottle early to preserve the freshness and character of Pinot Noir. These wines were all tasted post-bottling, which may have suppressed their aromatics somewhat, so I suspect my scores are on the conservative side as much of the charm and appeal of Pinot Noir is its endearing aromatics. Readers looking for a Northern Rhone look-alike should check out Failla’s two Syrahs." - Robert Parker (Feb 2011)
90 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine (2009 vintage):
"Notably and pleasantly earthy, with loamy wet soil, mineral, dried berry and herb notes, a mix of sweet, savory wild berry fruit and spicy underbrush. Complex and lingering. Drink now through 2018. 800 cases made." –JL (Oct 15, 2011)
90 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines (2009 vintage):"Its nice richness derives both from wine's ripe fruit as well as the creamy oak that underlays and comfortably fills out the attractive cherryish aromas. Medium-full in body and supple at entry with hints of a velvety texture that is sure to grow in prominence over time, the wine does not demand time in the cellar yet promises to reward it." Reviewed: February 2011
