The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Failla Pinot Noir and Chardonnays
March 4, 2025
White
2022 Failla Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Unlike the Chardonnays that give up balance trying to be Burgundy, this suggests a California parallel to Chablis, with both acidity and a touch of minerality but a distinctly West Coast ripe pure fruit.
Aroma: light, pretty, very fresh with notes of Meyer lemon and mineral, a touch of grass; Mouth: very clean, fresh and pure, underlined by nicely integrated minerality, fine and long, beautifully poised; Very Good - Excellent $40; Case, $34
2021 Failla Chardonnay Platt Vineyard
A year older and from the cool Petaluma Gap, this is bigger and rounded with a bit more well-integrated oak
Aroma: very pretty intense, very fine, saline, green, lime and a touch of melon, fresh; Mouth: low toned broad, and low toned, the suggestion of barrel or wood notes in a ripe and poised whole; Very Good - Excellent $64; Case, $54
Red
2023 Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Youthful, with lots of substance and darker fruit notes, it is satisfying now but will be better in the next two years
Color: very dark; Aroma: deep and heady, dark plum and cherry, heady and full, slightly later elegant sculpted; Mouth: firm, deep dark, poised, very pure and rounded fine dark length, firm smooth textured with light tannins, pure; Very Good - Excellent $44; Case, $37
2022 Failla Pinot Noir Lola Vineyard
Very light and delicate,
"A very expressive nose with aromas of crushed raspberry, sassafras, and violets jumps from the glass of this Pinot. The palate is layered and juicy, with flavors of fresh, ripe strawberry, Amarena cherry, and cocoa mingling for over a minute. It's a wine built for richer game-bird courses or mushroom-laden pasta". Very Good - Excellent $56; Case, $47.6
2022 Failla Pinot Noir Patton Vineyard
Elegant and impeccably balanced, This Oregon Pinot is as articulated as a fine burgundy
Color: medium dark; Mouth: clean, smooth, pretty dark-hued fine acid; elegant, more than robust, long; Excellent $53; Case, $45
2022 Failla Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard
With its dark fruit and bracing acidity, this shows the potential of Anderson Valley, long a backwater, to be a significant area for Pinot Noir
Aroma: lightly saline, rounded spice, very good thrust, acid spice over deep plum, heady and ripe dark toned; Mouth: dark, smooth textured, precise, poised in a low register, good weight, fine acid tannins, a lot of potential here; Excellent $75; Case, $63.75
Failla Sampler , one each of the bottles $282
Mix any six or more wines at their case prices
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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