TN: 2015 Failla Chardonnay Olivet Vineyard

David_Bu3ker · January 15, 2018, 11:16pm

2015 Failla Chardonnay Olivet Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (1/15/2018)
This is delicious Chardonnay. A great match with my sous vide scallops with garam masala that was elevating for both the wine and the food. Fresh quince and pear fruit with a squeeze of lemon was accented by subtly spicy oak, and finished with a crisp bite of acidity. It actually reminded me a bit of the Ramey Chards, and that is high praise. Lovely wine for now and the next few years.

Posted from CellarTracker

Jason_Hagen · January 17, 2018, 5:29pm

Nice. Although I have always heard great things, I’ve yet to taste a Failla wine. Now that Ehren has partnered with my friend Tim, maybe I’ll find the chance to taste.

Jason

David_Bu3ker · January 17, 2018, 5:53pm

So far I like their Chardonnay and Syrah more than their Pinot. There is a bit too much cherry cola in some of the Pinots for my taste.

Jason_Hagen · January 17, 2018, 10:03pm

Well now they are going to get pinot noir from an area that can actually grow pinot noir. And Chardonnay for that matter.

Jason

David_Bu3ker · January 17, 2018, 11:42pm

We’ll see.

I am no fan of Seven Springs, which they use now.

Jason_Hagen · January 18, 2018, 5:24pm

Those are fighting words What have you had from 7 Springs? It was a monopole for a long time. I have never had an Evening Land wine so I can’t weigh in on those. And my understanding is that the vineyard was expanded so I have no idea of what it is today. But if your 7 Springs was not pre 2000 … you might want to withhold judgment as that is when the divorce kicked in and the Vineyard was divided.

I wonder what other vineyards they will be sourcing. I know Zenith which is also Eola Amity and possibly not to your liking.
I assume they will get Justice which is Eola Amity but I think it is a lot of 777 clone and shows a little different. Hopefully they will get some fruit from the Ribbon Ridge AVA.

Jason

David_Bu3ker · January 18, 2018, 5:38pm

I have had a number of St. Innocent bottlings, as well as Evening Land. It’s largely the Evening Land wines that I do not like.

Jason_Hagen · January 20, 2018, 12:40am

Interesting. When Evening Land rolled into town, they kicked out all the producers that made the Vineyard famous. I’m sure there is a learning curve and they could not follow anyone else. I think there has been more changes at Evening Land and obviously they are no longer a monopole.

I would like to try Walter Scott’s 7 Springs. They have a lot of history with the vineyard.

St Innocent turned down the offer to take some fruit.

Jason