Speaking of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir...

as David Bueker and Robin Garr were...
2013 Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. 13.9% abv. Here's another really enjoyable one. The East Coast representative for Ehren Jordan's Failla Wines presented a tasting of Failla wines at The Raleigh Wine Shop the Tuesday prior to Triangle Wine Experience (Feb. 2). We tasted two Chardonnays and two Pinot Noirs and I liked them all! The Chardonnay from Chuy Vineyard, planted in 1964, may have been my favorite, but because the single vineyard wines were expensive, I left the tasting with three bottles each of the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. I took a bottle of each to our Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras pancake supper at church. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
So...2013 Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, CA.
The dominant scent and flavor in this wine is that of cherries (some may find raspberry also.) I also find a light smokiness and a mix of Christmas spices--cinnamon and nutmeg. This would pair nicely with duck breast in a cherry sauce. It has structure and depth for its price range and a medium to lengthy finish. Delicious! I will post on the Chardonnay in a few days.
Jasmine Hirsch was at Triangle Wine Experience again this year but I didn't have a chance to see her. I did go to a tasting of Mount Eden/Domaine Eden wines and a Lioco wine dinner and will report on those. The Failla representative was scheduled to be at the wine dinner at Poole's Diner (chef Ashley Christensen who was a 2014 James Beard award winner for best chef in the Southeast--way to go Ashley!!) Then the rep was going on to West of West Wine Festival in NYC.

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting. I have actually never had a Failla wine.

Vineyard designate Pinot Noirs are largely getting out of hand. It is sending me back to Burgundy for better value!

Hi Jane, your note reminds me of the Failla Hirsch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir I took to an off-line in Indianapolis 3 years ago. It was not cheap, I think $50 marked down from $70 but far and away the finest Pinot Noir I have ever had anywhere. Fruit was dark berry-like but the mushroom and forest floor notes dominated. I could have just smelled that wine forever. Not sure now of the year but probably 2010. 4 deg. here this AM so you should be glad you are hopefully much warmer.

Nice TN, Jane. The basic Failla SonomaCoast Chard & Pinot are terrific wines for the price ($36).
The vnyd-designate Pinots/Chards are getting a bit pricey. But the Estate Syrah ($62) is a no-brainer for me,
one of Calif's (actually..the World's) greatest Syrahs.
Tom

Not THAT much warmer here, Jim. In the 20s with a wind chill even lower and will be cold over the weekend.

Our high pressure bubble is back. I mean, I am enjoying the 68 degrees and all that, but WE NEED MORE RAIN.

I am afraid El Nino may not be enough to overcome the ridge. I fear the ridge may be a permanent feature?.

JC: As we drove through one of the other Fayettevilles tonight, (FVille, NY, upstate NY, near Siberacuse)), it was snowing and 12 degrees.