My Failla shipment arrived ystrday, so I pobegaed two:
1. Failla Viognier AlbanVnyd/EdnaVlly (14.1%) 2013: Light yellow color; very strong floral/mango/peach blossom/white fruits/melony slight chalky/mineral/stony quite aromatic nose; tart/stony/mineral lovely mango/peachu/Viog/melony somewhat tight/structured flavor; very long/lingering rather tart/structured/stony/chalky strong floral/Viog/mango/white fruits/peachy finish; has the structure of a Chard and should go out 10 yrs at least; one of Calif's best Viogs and blows away the Albans. $50.25
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2. Failla PinotNoir SonomaCoast (13.9%; 3,000 cs) 2013: Med.light color; strong black cherry/PN/earthy some toasty/oak/Burgundian/smokey rather fragrant nose; somewhat tart some earthy/Burgundian/toasty/smokey/oak strong black cherry/black cherry cola/PN bit earthy/savory/mineral flavor w/ light/lean tannins; very long rather toasty/smokey/oak/Burgundian some black cherry cola/PN finish w/ light hard tannins; needs several yrs; more Burgundian/lighter than previous Failla SonomaCoast Pinots; very fairly priced at $34.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. JohnAlban has sold his Viog & Rouss fruit to a number of winemakers over the yrs. But Ehren is the last one standing. Because of huge Monktown scores and demand for his wines, John can use all the fruit he grows and charge much higher prices.
In 2014, because of a very short crop (which will command even higher prices from John), John had no extra Viog to sell Ehren. So, alas, no Failla Viog '14. Whether John will ever again sell fruit to Ehren is an open question. 'Twood be a pity if he doesn't because the Failla is one of the World's profound Viogniers. Not your DollyParton, in your face, style of Viognier.
Tom