2010 Failla Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard

The 2010 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard is another of the highlights in this range. Layered and deeply expressive, it shows a distinctly red fruit profile intermingled with white flowers, blood orange and star anise. This seamless, utterly impeccable Pinot should drink well for another decade. Today, it is drop-dead gorgeous. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2024. 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

(13.9% alcohol): Bright dark red. Deep aromas of crushed cherry, raspberry, earth and sassafras. Supple and seamless in the mouth, offering pliant raspberry and spice flavors that carry through a very smooth and impressively long finish. Tannins are nicely coated by fruit.