PRIMA Notes: Tasting through winemaker Ehren Jordan’s lineup of Failla Pinots , Syrahs and Chardonnays is like spending a day wandering the West Coast’s best vineyards, smelling the salty coastal air and tasting the soil. They are amazingly pure expressions of their distinctive terroirs while, at the same time, offering up super appealing, super luscious flavors. Yum! But the real surprises in the outstanding Failla lineup are his Sonoma Coast cuvees, particularly the gorgeous Chardonnay. Culled and crafted from the many sources Jordan handles, it is in this wine where you can taste a primer of what makes coastal Sonoma County so special! It is also an incredible deal. With names like Hudson, Haynes and Olivet Road in the blend, how could it not be an intriguing wine? Buttressed by its coastal crunchy acidity, it’s a mid-weight gymnast of a Chard that weighs in at a modest, refreshing 13% alcohol. Nonetheless, it delivers lots and lots of intensely flavored but very bright fruit with lovely pear and apple leading the way and broad hints of flinty, salty mineral, spice and the barest dash of something tropical adding layers of flavor to a big, but not too big and extremely food-friendly Chardonnay. A complete, savory and absolutely delicious offering that shows the deft touch Jordan brings to this grape. Drinking perfectly now! We’ve got a secret insider-only price for you only and ask that you not forward this e-mail. Enjoy!
Vinous Media: The 2019 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is a stellar appellation-level wine. Lemon confit, orchard fruit and yellow flowers are beautifully lifted in finely cut, nuanced Chardonnay that massively overachieves. Don't miss it. 92 points