2023 Failla - Pinot Noir Sonoma Estate Ft. Ross Seaview (750ml)

Failla was founded by Ehren Jordan, a winemaker whose guiding philosophy centers on exploring cool climate sites across California's most rugged coastal terrain. The winery farms its eleven acre estate biodynamically and has built a reputation on vineyard designate wines that highlight the differences between sites, from Keefer Ranch in the Russian River Valley to this estate parcel perched above the fog line on the Sonoma Coast. Jordan's commitment to a hands off, terroir first style runs through the entire lineup of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

The Estate Vineyard was planted in 1998 at roughly 1,400 feet of elevation, just four miles from the Pacific Ocean, within the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The appellation's high elevation keeps it above the coastal fog line, giving the vines more direct sunlight even as ocean proximity keeps temperatures cool, a combination that builds concentration while preserving acidity. The vineyard is planted to a mix of Swan, Calera, and Pommard clones, fermented with native yeasts and aged eleven months in French oak, a modest portion of it new.

This bold, savory Pinot Noir shows black cherry, plum, and new leather layered with licorice, dried herb, and menthol, all held together by firm, well structured tannins. Its wild, briny character reflects the site's dramatic coastal setting. This wine pairs well with duck breast, mushroom risotto, or a rustic lamb stew.