2011 Failla Pinot Noir Vivien

The 2011 Pinot Noir Vivien is a barrel selection Ehren Jordan bottled for his daughter. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice and new leather all take shape in the glass. A deep, implosive wine, the 2011 is endowed with serious structure and pure power. As good as the Vivien is, I don't quite find the same level of finesse that is present in so many of the other Failla wines. Time will ultimately tell if those qualities are indeed there. Today, the 2011 is very young and in need of serious bottle age.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Vivien is a barrel selection Ehren Jordan bottled for his daughter. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice and new leather all take shape in the glass. A deep, implosive wine, the 2011 is endowed with serious structure and pure power. As good as the Vivien is, I don’t quite find the same level of finesse that is present in so many of the other Failla wines. Time will ultimately tell if those qualities are indeed there. Today, the 2011 is very young and in need of serious bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. Ehren Jordan is one of those people who are maddeningly talented at many things. Jordan recently left his post at Turley, where he spent nearly 20 years making a dizzying array of superb Zinfandels. At Failla, which Jordan owns with his wife Anne-Marie, the focus is on cool-climate Chardonnays and Pinots, rendered in a range that approximates Turley when it comes to the number of different bottlings. Did I mention Jordan is versed in the classics and is also a licensed pilot? Jordan wants to spend more time at Failla, and I believe it, given the breadth of this range. Frankly, I can’t imagine how Ehren took care of similarly large portfolios at both Turley and Failla while maintaining a sense of sanity. It will be interesting to see how things develop at Failla. The wines are already stellar, as I hope these notes amply demonstrate. Simply put, Failla is a reference point winery for the Sonoma Coast. This is as good as it gets. Tel. (707) 963-0530