We LOVE Failla’s wines- visited their Oregon tasting room a few years back, and finally visited their main Napa location just a couple weeks ago. Both really warm, welcoming tasting experiences with plenty of unexpected pours and even a surprise cave tour (complete with cuddly cave cat) in Napa.
This Pinot was one of the absolute standouts in the tasting lineup for us. Even so young, ridiculously expressive, harmonious, and complex. Sort of a really classic blueprint of quality NorCal Pinot in a way. Billowing scents of spiced black cherries framed by powerfully earthy tones, coastal pine forest, sea spray; a bit of oak spice, content to hide behind the fruit and earth, almost like five-spice powder, subtle but really inviting. Plenty of minerally accents on the palate also, giving a very fresh, cool feel to the black cherry richness as the fresh acidity builds and builds. The fruit was a bit more “rugged” and dark than the average Willamette bottling, in some ways, but not even close to overripe. Beautiful gentle weight to it, sappy and textured, but not harsh or difficult in any way.
Bought several other bottles of Pinot and Chard there, including some with age- and will make posts for most of them as time goes on.
Only other wine I’ve had from the Wendling Vineyard was a Cobb 2018 PN, which we drank a couple years ago. I think the Cobb was a bit more obviously ripe and fruit-forward, and this Failla a touch more precise and terroir-driven, but both had plenty of fruit and plenty of interesting nuance!
huckdr
Nice review! Has me excited for my upcoming inaugural shipment going out next week containing mostly their 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, along with their Patton Valley, Wyatt, Lola Sonoma Coast, and Pearlstad Vineyard/Eola-Amity Pinot Noirs. I’ll keep my eye out for your other reviews.
idreamofaubergine
I tried their basic Sonoma bottling several months ago and loved it…
NWisthebest
He makes some amazing cool climate Syrah too!
Maninthemiroirs
Their Savagnin is pretty interesting. One of only a few vineyards in the state that have it planted.
5 Comments
We LOVE Failla’s wines- visited their Oregon tasting room a few years back, and finally visited their main Napa location just a couple weeks ago. Both really warm, welcoming tasting experiences with plenty of unexpected pours and even a surprise cave tour (complete with cuddly cave cat) in Napa.
This Pinot was one of the absolute standouts in the tasting lineup for us. Even so young, ridiculously expressive, harmonious, and complex. Sort of a really classic blueprint of quality NorCal Pinot in a way. Billowing scents of spiced black cherries framed by powerfully earthy tones, coastal pine forest, sea spray; a bit of oak spice, content to hide behind the fruit and earth, almost like five-spice powder, subtle but really inviting. Plenty of minerally accents on the palate also, giving a very fresh, cool feel to the black cherry richness as the fresh acidity builds and builds. The fruit was a bit more “rugged” and dark than the average Willamette bottling, in some ways, but not even close to overripe. Beautiful gentle weight to it, sappy and textured, but not harsh or difficult in any way.
Bought several other bottles of Pinot and Chard there, including some with age- and will make posts for most of them as time goes on.
Only other wine I’ve had from the Wendling Vineyard was a Cobb 2018 PN, which we drank a couple years ago. I think the Cobb was a bit more obviously ripe and fruit-forward, and this Failla a touch more precise and terroir-driven, but both had plenty of fruit and plenty of interesting nuance!
Nice review! Has me excited for my upcoming inaugural shipment going out next week containing mostly their 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, along with their Patton Valley, Wyatt, Lola Sonoma Coast, and Pearlstad Vineyard/Eola-Amity Pinot Noirs. I’ll keep my eye out for your other reviews.
I tried their basic Sonoma bottling several months ago and loved it…
He makes some amazing cool climate Syrah too!
Their Savagnin is pretty interesting. One of only a few vineyards in the state that have it planted.