WTN: a pleasant surprise and a disappointment

Pizza night. Looking at the inventory, I saw that we had not one but two bottles of a Ridge 2007 Sonoma County Carignane, Buchignani Ranch. Probably over the hill, I figured. Not at all! Supple but still fresh black cherry fruit, velvety texture, good balance, even a little mouthwatering. I can't say that I'm a carignan(e) fan in general, but I always liked this bottling, and I'm glad to see it holds up after almost two decades.

Less happy, the other night, was a Failla 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, "Stella." Andrea liked this better than I did; I thought it was too heavy a dose of wood for a delicate wine, which overwhelmed the earthy and floral elements of the aroma with vanilla. Don't get me wrong, it was tastefully done, and within the parameters of "well-made" -- just in a style that interests me less than ever.

[David M. Bueker]

Is “Stella” a blend of sites?

Yes, I think it and the "Lola" bottling were started at the same time, both from two or more sites, although I can't find any specific information about which ones.

[David M. Bueker]

Yes, I think it and the "Lola" bottling were started at the same time, both from two or more sites, although I can't find any specific information about which ones.

Well I’m not dumb
But I can’t understand
Why she smells like a Pinot
And tastes like Syrah

I would've gone with "but she tastes just like cherry cola / c-o-l-a, cola" ... but yours is good too!

[Jenise]

I had the same reaction to Failla CA pinots, though I liked the chardonnays (of which the first one I ever had was with a splendid dinner in Hanalei, Kauai--maybe that helped.)

It'll be interesting to pull out some of their single-vineyard bottlings and see if I have the same reaction now. Maybe I'll try a Failla Hirsch soon, which I remember being my favorite of theirs on the couple of occasions we tasted there (a dozen years ago, +/-).

[David M. Bueker]

I would've gone with "but she tastes just like cherry cola / c-o-l-a, cola" ... but yours is good too!

Love it!