Failla Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Founded by Ehren and Anne-Marie Jordan, Failla has become a reference point for restrained, site-transparent Pinot Noir drawn from the far reaches of the Sonoma Coast. Occidental Ridge Vineyard sits high and exposed on the coastal hills, rooted in rocky, well-drained soils and shaped by persistent Pacific winds and fog, conditions that favor small berries and long ripening; the whole-cluster approach in 2018 underscores the vineyard’s savory tension, lifted aromatics, and distinctly maritime sense of place.

Critical Acclaim

98 Vinous

The 2018 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard is a magnificent, head spinning wine. Inky dark fruit, violet, plum, licorice, hard candy, mint and sweet spice give the 2018 striking aromatic nuance, but it is the wine’s mid-palate depth and unctuous richness that stand out most. Even with all of its overtness and plushness, the 2018 remains light on its fee. That, in essence, is the magic of the Sonoma Coast – the way on which the wines feel ripe but not heavy. Wow. What a wine.