Opened this for Thanksgiving dinner along with a bottle of 2019 Elizabeth Chambers Morphos Pinot (McMinnville, OR appelation). This was showing really well, with clear Cali Pinot character, but not over-the-top at all, with silky mouthfeel and a lovely flavor profile. Everyone enjoyed it, with half preferring this and the other half preferring the Oregon bottle.
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It has been since 2018 since opening a bottle. It has continued to evolve and is now the best I’ve tasted it. Still very primary and new world, but it does have more depth than the last time I had it when it was a strawberry jam fruit bomb.
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Short decant, showing pretty earthy red fruited nose with just a hint of cherry cola. Same on the palate, mid- length. Generous slightly silky palate, not much structure at this time so probably not with a long life in front of it. A fine Pinot, not cut from the sweeter more candied cloth of the RRV, but lacking complexity. I wonder if it will evolve much tonight.
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Showed promise upon pnp, but somewhat shy. Over the course of the evening it started to reveal a very appealing floral, red fruited fusion. My gut says this is currently the best it will be, but should hold at this stage for about another year. Fun stuff.
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This was just bizarre Opened yesterday at lunch. It was reticent, reclusive with the fruit ticked away and showing little. Almost like a burgundy in an odd spot. I’d give it an 87 at that moment b
Oddly at dinner it was singing. Bright soaring delicate fruit. Wow so refined. I’d give it a 93 and that time. Should have drank the whole bottle
The next day at lunch, the soaring fruit did that, floated away to leave not much behind. Back to an 88. So I’ll score it (87+93+88)/3=89. Not great.
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I think Ehran has kind of a house style. It’s masculine, savory, and restrained but you just can’t hide that sun-kissed Russian River fruit. Very good bottle
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Bright Ruby color; long fast legs; strong strawberry note right up front, hints of dried rose, finished with a sweet cinnamon taste; it's on the sweeter side so would be prudent to pair with food
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First impression? - quality, well made wine, beautiful nose, delicious flavor, it richness says “California Pinot”. Feel fortunate to have been able to experience it.
Buy again at a reasonable price. All in all a good value at the winery price.
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Intense ruby red in the glass. Aromas of cranberry, strawberry, cherry, iron, and spice. Well rounded on the palate. Light tannin, moderate acidity and decent length. All in all, a fantastic wine. The fruit is there but the freshness of this wine is what is most alluring. Delicious! Likely has another few years at this stage before evolving beautifully.
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Carnelian, only moderate concentration. Clear, bright.
Black pepper, red berries, touch of licorice.
Nice balance on palate. Moderate tannin. Good acidity. Well concentrated. Maybe a touch of heat.
Overall - I like this but it doesn’t really have the delicacy or grace that characterizes my favorite pinot noirs. Kind of blocky and rough. Don’t think I’ll be buying a case of this.
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Still very primary and young, but dang, this is rich and sexy juice. There is so much strawberry jam stuffed into this bottle, it may need to be renamed "Strawberry Hill" not to be confused with Boones Farm, however. I look forward to drinking my other bottles after a few more years in the cellar.
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This is the first bottle I have ever had by this winery. The Keefer Ranch sourcing of the grapes and some ratings in WS caught my eye. I was not disappointed. I like the deep/dark PNs that usually come from Keefer Ranch fruit. This one is drinking well right now.
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Failla Cave Tour and Tasting. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour, legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of savoury earth, salty minerality, red cherries, raspberries, light red plum. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.8%), fine medium- tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of red cherries, ripe raspberries, light red plum, salty minerality, fresh damp loamy earth. Long finish. Very good quality. Ethereal and cerebral feel. Can only get better with another 3-4 years of age.
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Bright ruby colors with nice body for a PN. Great floral nose, with cherry and berry flavors. Long legs and smooth finish. Nicely complex. Certainly drinking well now - lived up to my high expectations for this wine.
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Tasted x2 recently - once in the cave and once at home. This wine has a familiar RRV profile with some cranberry, red cherry and raspberry fruit with restrained oak and pleasing acidity. It’s not effusive or complex, but does express a sense of place and lets the fruit speak for itself. Enjoyable. Would be a go-to weeknight wine for me but for the price
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Tasted at a tasting in the Failla lodge. Overall, producer loves cool climate grapes and higher acid expressions of all varietals. Found this one to be on the highest end for acid, with a bitter finish and a strong perfume. Nose of vanilla, damp earth, decaying floral/roses. my least favorite
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Luxurious; the pinot perfume is defined by sweet dark fruit and new oak. Extravagantly structured and with good acidity: extra everything but not over the top extracted if you know what I mean. The kind of pinot you should drink with a bloody steak and a bearnaise sauce, rather than paired with a salad based on endives and thinly sliced mushrooms. My feeling is you could lay this down for a decade and it would be drinking about the same.
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Lots of potential in this wine, but it's delicious right now. Cherry and cranberry fruit (sweet and tart), along with good balancing acidity make it very approachable, and fun.
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Napa Trip 2017; 7/23/2017-7/24/2017 (Calistoga, CA): Keefer Ranch has always been a favorite of mine (I love what Ed Kurtzman makes from there at Sandler). This bottle from Failla was no different, and my favorite of the tasting. This was light and delicate, with spicy red fruit and a very smooth texture. I get lots of tart cherry, and the long finish was complemented by a nice dusty component.
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A terrific nose. Quite a special Pinot. Smooth entry with strong tart cranberry present. Cherry cola and anise mid-palate. Surprisingly long finish (with some heat) for a Pinot. Very nice work Failla
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Tasted at the winery... sexy strawberry jam with good balance, acidity, and tannin to age nicely. I will sit on these for at least 5 years. Good juice!
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Complex and ethereal. It has crunchy red berry fruit. There’s a suggestion of earthy root vegetable. It is so silky in the mouth and cut by fine minerally acidity.
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1/9/2024 - PIntag wrote: 93 Points
Really excellent Cali Pinot in a great spot right now. Went superbly with my wife's delicious Goulash soup.
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11/23/2023 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Opened this for Thanksgiving dinner along with a bottle of 2019 Elizabeth Chambers Morphos Pinot (McMinnville, OR appelation). This was showing really well, with clear Cali Pinot character, but not over-the-top at all, with silky mouthfeel and a lovely flavor profile. Everyone enjoyed it, with half preferring this and the other half preferring the Oregon bottle.
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7/7/2022 - 32lakeviewwine wrote: 90 Points
Lots of acid remaining, not sure about the depth
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4/21/2022 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking great now. Easy drinking and doesn’t require much thought or examination.
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9/6/2021 - stormygirl Likes this wine: 90 Points
not overly complex but lovely and balanced. wonderful nose, shorter finish than I had hoped for. drink up!
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6/17/2021 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
It has been since 2018 since opening a bottle. It has continued to evolve and is now the best I’ve tasted it. Still very primary and new world, but it does have more depth than the last time I had it when it was a strawberry jam fruit bomb.
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4/21/2021 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 89 Points
Short decant, showing pretty earthy red fruited nose with just a hint of cherry cola. Same on the palate, mid- length. Generous slightly silky palate, not much structure at this time so probably not with a long life in front of it. A fine Pinot, not cut from the sweeter more candied cloth of the RRV, but lacking complexity. I wonder if it will evolve much tonight.
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2/19/2021 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showed promise upon pnp, but somewhat shy. Over the course of the evening it started to reveal a very appealing floral, red fruited fusion.
My gut says this is currently the best it will be, but should hold at this stage for about another year. Fun stuff.
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2/19/2021 - Drewball Likes this wine: 93 Points
Evolved beautifully in the glass. Mouth watering acidity and lovely red fruit.
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10/30/2020 - railgunner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Supple, delicious, dark fruits.
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6/11/2020 - brasstab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Winner.
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4/26/2020 - Weiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good medium. Body Pinot
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4/13/2020 - Dalex wrote: 89 Points
This was just bizarre
Opened yesterday at lunch. It was reticent, reclusive with the fruit ticked away and showing little. Almost like a burgundy in an odd spot. I’d give it an 87 at that moment b
Oddly at dinner it was singing. Bright soaring delicate fruit. Wow so refined. I’d give it a 93 and that time. Should have drank the whole bottle
The next day at lunch, the soaring fruit did that, floated away to leave not much behind. Back to an 88. So I’ll score it (87+93+88)/3=89. Not great.
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12/10/2019 - jviz wrote: 91 Points
I think Ehran has kind of a house style. It’s masculine, savory, and restrained but you just can’t hide that sun-kissed Russian River fruit. Very good bottle
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10/24/2019 - Ianttuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully. Paired well with pork belly.
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6/16/2019 - Weiner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium body, stood up to chicken parm. Nice wine.
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2/22/2019 - johnvey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright Ruby color; long fast legs; strong strawberry note right up front, hints of dried rose, finished with a sweet cinnamon taste; it's on the sweeter side so would be prudent to pair with food
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1/21/2019 - Giacomo Likes this wine:
3.75/5
First impression? - quality, well made wine, beautiful nose, delicious flavor, it richness says “California Pinot”.
Feel fortunate to have been able to experience it.
Buy again at a reasonable price. All in all a good value at the winery price.
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10/24/2018 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Intense ruby red in the glass.
Aromas of cranberry, strawberry, cherry, iron, and spice.
Well rounded on the palate. Light tannin, moderate acidity and decent length. All in all, a fantastic wine. The fruit is there but the freshness of this wine is what is most alluring. Delicious! Likely has another few years at this stage before evolving beautifully.
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8/11/2018 - tak4 Likes this wine: 88 Points
30 minutes in the decanter before tasting.
Carnelian, only moderate concentration. Clear, bright.
Black pepper, red berries, touch of licorice.
Nice balance on palate. Moderate tannin. Good acidity. Well concentrated. Maybe a touch of heat.
Overall - I like this but it doesn’t really have the delicacy or grace that characterizes my favorite pinot noirs. Kind of blocky and rough. Don’t think I’ll be buying a case of this.
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8/4/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still very primary and young, but dang, this is rich and sexy juice. There is so much strawberry jam stuffed into this bottle, it may need to be renamed "Strawberry Hill" not to be confused with Boones Farm, however. I look forward to drinking my other bottles after a few more years in the cellar.
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6/21/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the first bottle I have ever had by this winery. The Keefer Ranch sourcing of the grapes and some ratings in WS caught my eye. I was not disappointed. I like the deep/dark PNs that usually come from Keefer Ranch fruit. This one is drinking well right now.
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5/24/2018 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Failla Cave Tour and Tasting.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour, legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of savoury earth, salty minerality, red cherries, raspberries, light red plum. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.8%), fine medium- tannins, medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of red cherries, ripe raspberries, light red plum, salty minerality, fresh damp loamy earth. Long finish.
Very good quality. Ethereal and cerebral feel. Can only get better with another 3-4 years of age.
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5/2/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Loads and loads and loads of ripe raspberry on the nose. With some traction on the palate as well. With some tension. That is good Pinot.
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3/25/2018 - VinoViking Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bright ruby colors with nice body for a PN. Great floral nose, with cherry and berry flavors. Long legs and smooth finish. Nicely complex. Certainly drinking well now - lived up to my high expectations for this wine.
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1/20/2018 - bigdogflow Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted at Failla tasting
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1/13/2018 - Graniwinkle wrote: 89 Points
Nose: bright berry. Taste: bright raspberry caramel, smoke, burnt edges, dusty tannin. Nice, not too complex.
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12/16/2017 - sierrapapadelta Likes this wine: 90 Points
Stone fruit and spices. Super smooth finish. Great to drink now or in 10 years.
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11/10/2017 - jviz wrote: 91 Points
Tasted x2 recently - once in the cave and once at home. This wine has a familiar RRV profile with some cranberry, red cherry and raspberry fruit with restrained oak and pleasing acidity. It’s not effusive or complex, but does express a sense of place and lets the fruit speak for itself. Enjoyable. Would be a go-to weeknight wine for me but for the price
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11/3/2017 - ChristyLeighNY wrote:
Tasted at a tasting in the Failla lodge. Overall, producer loves cool climate grapes and higher acid expressions of all varietals.
Found this one to be on the highest end for acid, with a bitter finish and a strong perfume. Nose of vanilla, damp earth, decaying floral/roses. my least favorite
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10/30/2017 - EMichels wrote: 88 Points
Tight fruit; Light cherry; Slightly tart
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9/30/2017 - Omar Khayyam wrote: 90 Points
Luxurious; the pinot perfume is defined by sweet dark fruit and new oak. Extravagantly structured and with good acidity: extra everything but not over the top extracted if you know what I mean. The kind of pinot you should drink with a bloody steak and a bearnaise sauce, rather than paired with a salad based on endives and thinly sliced mushrooms. My feeling is you could lay this down for a decade and it would be drinking about the same.
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8/27/2017 - Sirwes Likes this wine:
Would buy it again
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8/1/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Lots of potential in this wine, but it's delicious right now. Cherry and cranberry fruit (sweet and tart), along with good balancing acidity make it very approachable, and fun.
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7/23/2017 - td1836 Likes this wine:
Napa Trip 2017; 7/23/2017-7/24/2017 (Calistoga, CA): Keefer Ranch has always been a favorite of mine (I love what Ed Kurtzman makes from there at Sandler). This bottle from Failla was no different, and my favorite of the tasting. This was light and delicate, with spicy red fruit and a very smooth texture. I get lots of tart cherry, and the long finish was complemented by a nice dusty component.
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7/13/2017 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 93 Points
A terrific nose. Quite a special Pinot. Smooth entry with strong tart cranberry present. Cherry cola and anise mid-palate. Surprisingly long finish (with some heat) for a Pinot. Very nice work Failla
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7/12/2017 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs more time in the bottle... it will warrant a higher score with more age for the pieces to meld together.
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6/19/2017 - picc234 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Love Failla
Another great Pinot
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6/4/2017 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted at the winery... sexy strawberry jam with good balance, acidity, and tannin to age nicely. I will sit on these for at least 5 years. Good juice!
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1/21/2017 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Complex and ethereal. It has crunchy red berry fruit. There’s a suggestion of earthy root vegetable. It is so silky in the mouth and cut by fine minerally acidity.
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