January 25, 2012
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Failla
| Owner(s) | Ann-Maria Failla, Ehren Jordan |
| Web site | www.faillawines.com |
| Link to this site |
Failla (pronounced FAY-la) was originally founded as Failla Jordan in 1998, taking its name from the husband-and-wife team of winemaker Ehren Jordan and fellow debtor Anne-Marie Failla. That year the Estate vineyard on the Sonoma Coast was planted and together they began buying fruit for our first releases, the very Rhône-style ‘98 Alban Vineyard Viognier and ‘98 Que Syrah Syrah.
After three vintages, legal issues over the use of the word Jordan (as in Jordan Winery) in the name forced them to continue the label as simply "Failla".
"Failla" debuted with a new Chuck House-designed label in the fall of 2002. The original label, designed by Anne-Marie's sister Marybeth, has been archived and the first three vintages will join either the pantheon of collectors' items or the fraternity of the oddities bin.
The lineup of wines (which includes varietals other than Pinot Noir as well) are sold through a mailing list. The business address is 3530 Silverado Trail in St. Helena. 707-963-0530
Ehren spent several years looking for unique, cool-climate Pinot Noir sources. The portfolio currently includes Pinots from the Hirsch Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast (added in 2001) as well a Keefer Ranch in Green Valley. The 2005 vintage brought Pinot Noirs from Occidental Ridge on the Sonoma Coast, and Rancho Santa Rosa in the Santa Rita Hills north of Santa Barbara. 2006 includes Appian Way Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, as well as Peay Vineyards and Estate Pinot from the Sonoma Coast.
Articles About Failla
Celebrated Vineyards Focus Tasting (7.24 8/28/2009)
Embarrassment of Riches: California (9.1 1/11/2012)
Green Valley Pinot Noir: The Secret is a Three Letter Word (8.11 2/15/2010)
Marcy Keefer & Craig Strehlow: Keefer Ranch (6.62 7/19/2008)
The 9th Annual World of Pinot Noir (7.16 4/18/2009)
West Sonoma Coast Vintners (8.32 3/1/2011)
Reviewed Wines
2009 Failla Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc..
Unreleased.
·
Delicious and seductive, this beautifully crafted wine has the whole
package of modest alcohol, bright and fresh berry aromas, discreetly
concentrated dark berry flavors, bright acidity, well-proportioned tannic
backbone, smooth mouth feel and lengthy aromatic intensity. Still very young,
but possesses a very bright future. One of the best Pinot Noirs I tasted over the
three days. Very good (+).
Reviewed March 12, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $30.
·
Dark
reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex nose offering scents of
dark berries, brier, redwood, oak cask, bacon and rose petals. Fairly
intense array of dark red raspberry and red plum flavors with a savory
oak and floral undertone. Straightforward with a pleasingly rich mouth
feel. Good (+).
Reviewed January 11, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 Failla Vivian Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., unreleased. Founded in 1998, Failla is
the project of winemaker Ehren Jordan and his wife Anne-Marie Failla. Jordan has a distinguished history of
winemaking at Neyers Vineyards and Turley Wine Cellars. His Pinot Noirs, which are sourced from prime
California coastal vineyards, have been superb of late.
·
The nose is light, airy and slightly grassy. Tasty and
intense boysenberry core with lively acidity on a lingering finish.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Failla Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $47.
·
The nose is dominated by
purple fruits, mushrooms, oak and brioche. On the palate, the flavors echo the aromas with added interest
offered by savory herbs. Smooth and full-bodied, even muscular, with silky tannins, good acidity and some
persistence on the fruity finish. Decent.
Reviewed February 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Failla Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $45.
·
Confected cherries, exotic
spices, and dried herbs fill the nose. Delicious and juicy black cherry flavor with a sidecar of anise
and savory herbs. Silky smooth and seamless with diaphanous tannins. A little bigger than the Keefer
Ranch label, but hard to choose between them.
Reviewed July 19, 2008
ARTICLE »
2009 Failla Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc.. Unreleased. · Delicious and seductive, this beautifully crafted wine has the whole package of modest alcohol, bright and fresh berry aromas, discreetly concentrated dark berry flavors, bright acidity, well-proportioned tannic backbone, smooth mouth feel and lengthy aromatic intensity. Still very young, but possesses a very bright future. One of the best Pinot Noirs I tasted over the three days. Very good (+). Reviewed March 12, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $30. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex nose offering scents of dark berries, brier, redwood, oak cask, bacon and rose petals. Fairly intense array of dark red raspberry and red plum flavors with a savory oak and floral undertone. Straightforward with a pleasingly rich mouth feel. Good (+). Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 Failla Vivian Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., unreleased. Founded in 1998, Failla is the project of winemaker Ehren Jordan and his wife Anne-Marie Failla. Jordan has a distinguished history of winemaking at Neyers Vineyards and Turley Wine Cellars. His Pinot Noirs, which are sourced from prime California coastal vineyards, have been superb of late. · The nose is light, airy and slightly grassy. Tasty and intense boysenberry core with lively acidity on a lingering finish. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Failla Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $47. · The nose is dominated by purple fruits, mushrooms, oak and brioche. On the palate, the flavors echo the aromas with added interest offered by savory herbs. Smooth and full-bodied, even muscular, with silky tannins, good acidity and some persistence on the fruity finish. Decent. Reviewed February 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Failla Keefer Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $45. · Confected cherries, exotic spices, and dried herbs fill the nose. Delicious and juicy black cherry flavor with a sidecar of anise and savory herbs. Silky smooth and seamless with diaphanous tannins. A little bigger than the Keefer Ranch label, but hard to choose between them. Reviewed July 19, 2008 ARTICLE »
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