Rich and spicy, a mash of red berries and palate quenching acidity. Absolutely drinkable now, but most definitely will possess greater pleasure in a few years.
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Opened a day ago, half of the bottle was decanted into a half bottle and recorked immediately. Notes are primarily from second day and that recorked half bottle. When the full bottle was opened it was a little spritzy, but not as heavily as others have noted. Nose yesterday initially had some VA aromas, but that blew off. Today, there's no obvious acetic/VA stuff in the aroma and it does have some plush, ripe red fruit and cherry. Medium body, with some sweeter red fruit, but there's some noticeable tannins in the finish that are a bit harsh and wood like, so it has a very drying finish that kind of kills the fruit in the finish. I liked this more on release. Not sure if the balance is a little whacked by the refermentation or something else. It's OK, but glad this is the only one I have left. I don't think the fruit will outlast the tannins, and with the slight refermentation, I'd worry about hanging onto others for too much longer.
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I kept having to check the bottle to make sure this was not a European wine. Jammy nose at open, with similar mouthfeel. But upon breathing for about an hour, this wine became decadently spicy, with an earthy texture and perfectly balanced flavors. Surprisingly acidic.
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Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle. I've been a fan of Failla for quite some time, but this was my first venture: A bit dusty and certainly earthy on the nose with dark cherry fruit and a decided flintiness. The palate is reserved with that flintiness predominate but with tart cherry, a dirty, earthy forest floor, and a zingy acidity that defines this wine. I first tasted this a year ago and I was more enamored, perhaps, than I am tonight, but this is still a solid Pinot. thedrunkencyclist.com
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PNP with effervescence. Gave a couple of shakes to blow it off. A bit astringent with fruits and cinnamon. Gets better with air but not a rebuy for me.
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A blend of four different vineyards. 40% whole cluster. Bill thinks its super pretty but to me its got kinda a hard edge to it and the cluster really shows through.
On second pass it really is coming up. Actually, that is getting really pretty on the nose. Tight on the palate but quite elegant. My how impressions change with more than one taste.
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Medium purple in the glass. Nose is incredible - very fruit forward with raspberry, ripe red cherries, and a hint of cranberry. In the glass, red fruit takes a back seat to leather and smoke. Lingering finish features those same red fruits with cranberry being the most predominate. Wine is well balanced - juicy with a bit of pleasant grip. Note that day one was slightly out of whack out of the bottle. Effervescence and a bit tart - should have given this a solid decant. Day three was fantastic. This Pinot drinks solidly over a few days and doesn’t become flabby or washed - just a sturdy wine that drinks really phenomenally. Will stock up and drink over the next few years for sure.
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Crowd pleaser, not super complex upon opening (did not have time to open up) but well balanced with a nice heavy roundness. Would like to see how it changes with time.
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The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir: Retail $30. Dusty and dirty on the nose, really mineral. Fruity on the palate but holy cow is there a ton of tannin here—drying my mouth out right away. This may need some time, maybe a lot of time. Very Good to Excellent. 89-91 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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The fruit is a bit candied and upfront with tones of sassafras, raspberries, bright red cherries, plums, licorice, and rose petals. The Medium bodied feel is balanced, but lacks depth with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. This is young, but I don't know how much room there really is for development. This is made in a crowd pleasing style and it works for that.
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Going on to the Pinots. Very aromatic. The color of the wine is showing the color of the fruit - leaning towards dark forest berries and underripe plum with hints of orange peel, flint and Earl Grey tea leaves. Not an overly complex wine, but well-balanced and quaffable. Finishes off a bit bitter, but I'm not complaining too much.
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Slightly prickly right out of the bottle (almost the sensation of little bubbles). Settled down on Day 2, better on Day 3. Seems like an interesting little Oregon Pinot with enough freshness. Just muddled at this stage for me.
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Lovely nose of raspberry, strawberry, sandalwood and aniseed. The palate is fine and lacy, with good definition and persistence. Drinking beautifully straight out the gate.
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3/9/2023 - dlduchon wrote: 82 Points
Fizzy and disjointed. Could not finish it.
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12/3/2022 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 88 Points
Almost no perceptible fizz. Tasted good without the flaw in other bottles. I opened an hour before drinking.
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11/27/2022 - wagonwine wrote: 88 Points
Definitely refermented in bottle, per others' notes. Still moderately enjoyable.
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5/14/2022 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich and spicy, a mash of red berries and palate quenching acidity. Absolutely drinkable now, but most definitely will possess greater pleasure in a few years.
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4/24/2022 - wlsch wrote: 88 Points
Opened a day ago, half of the bottle was decanted into a half bottle and recorked immediately. Notes are primarily from second day and that recorked half bottle. When the full bottle was opened it was a little spritzy, but not as heavily as others have noted. Nose yesterday initially had some VA aromas, but that blew off. Today, there's no obvious acetic/VA stuff in the aroma and it does have some plush, ripe red fruit and cherry. Medium body, with some sweeter red fruit, but there's some noticeable tannins in the finish that are a bit harsh and wood like, so it has a very drying finish that kind of kills the fruit in the finish. I liked this more on release. Not sure if the balance is a little whacked by the refermentation or something else. It's OK, but glad this is the only one I have left. I don't think the fruit will outlast the tannins, and with the slight refermentation, I'd worry about hanging onto others for too much longer.
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1/22/2022 - Gruffalius wrote: 88 Points
Very muted. Never really opened up. Not bad just underwhelming.
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12/22/2021 - dlduchon wrote: 50 Points
secondary bottle fermantation. Could not drink it.
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10/1/2021 - wynnewood500 wrote:
PNP for a casual dinner. Color on the lighter Side.While not a big wine, it has a significant degree of spiciness which makes it an interesting drink.
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5/26/2021 - dlduchon wrote: 86 Points
Less fizz in this bottle and it dissipated. Light and simple Pinot.
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11/27/2020 - taylorwfu Likes this wine: 94 Points
I kept having to check the bottle to make sure this was not a European wine. Jammy nose at open, with similar mouthfeel. But upon breathing for about an hour, this wine became decadently spicy, with an earthy texture and perfectly balanced flavors. Surprisingly acidic.
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11/15/2020 - synfinatic wrote: 90 Points
Getting better but still needs a couple more years. Will try again in 2022.
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11/7/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points
Retail $30. Big Ass Bottle. I've been a fan of Failla for quite some time, but this was my first venture: A bit dusty and certainly earthy on the nose with dark cherry fruit and a decided flintiness. The palate is reserved with that flintiness predominate but with tart cherry, a dirty, earthy forest floor, and a zingy acidity that defines this wine. I first tasted this a year ago and I was more enamored, perhaps, than I am tonight, but this is still a solid Pinot. thedrunkencyclist.com
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10/23/2020 - Gruffalius Likes this wine: 91 Points
Failla never disappoints.
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9/5/2020 - brasstab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Racy and super-drinkable. Carbonic vibes, too, which I thought I would mind but I didn't mind.
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8/8/2020 - dlduchon wrote: flawed
Secondary bottle fermentation. Others have noted. Too bad. 5 more bottles to go not sure what to do with them. Fruity simple style Pinot.
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6/21/2020 - Deepdrop wrote: 89 Points
PNP with effervescence. Gave a couple of shakes to blow it off. A bit astringent with fruits and cinnamon. Gets better with air but not a rebuy for me.
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6/14/2020 - jckingery@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Terrific wine, drinkable now, plenty more to go.
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4/2/2020 - Amcjp Likes this wine: 85 Points
It was fine. Not our favorite from Failla. I think we are going to stick with their CA wines. Really acidic, though admittedly you g.
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3/10/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A blend of four different vineyards. 40% whole cluster. Bill thinks its super pretty but to me its got kinda a hard edge to it and the cluster really shows through.
On second pass it really is coming up. Actually, that is getting really pretty on the nose. Tight on the palate but quite elegant. My how impressions change with more than one taste.
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2/21/2020 - Mot and Rob Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium purple in the glass. Nose is incredible - very fruit forward with raspberry, ripe red cherries, and a hint of cranberry.
In the glass, red fruit takes a back seat to leather and smoke. Lingering finish features those same red fruits with cranberry being the most predominate.
Wine is well balanced - juicy with a bit of pleasant grip.
Note that day one was slightly out of whack out of the bottle. Effervescence and a bit tart - should have given this a solid decant. Day three was fantastic. This Pinot drinks solidly over a few days and doesn’t become flabby or washed - just a sturdy wine that drinks really phenomenally. Will stock up and drink over the next few years for sure.
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12/28/2019 - Phil Loxera Likes this wine: 91 Points
Crowd pleaser, not super complex upon opening (did not have time to open up) but well balanced with a nice heavy roundness. Would like to see how it changes with time.
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12/16/2019 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Plush and silky, red fruited, and delicious. Consumer friendly QPR.
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12/7/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Pinot Noir: Retail $30. Dusty and dirty on the nose, really mineral. Fruity on the palate but holy cow is there a ton of tannin here—drying my mouth out right away. This may need some time, maybe a lot of time. Very Good to Excellent. 89-91 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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11/3/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 88 Points
The fruit is a bit candied and upfront with tones of sassafras, raspberries, bright red cherries, plums, licorice, and rose petals. The Medium bodied feel is balanced, but lacks depth with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. This is young, but I don't know how much room there really is for development. This is made in a crowd pleasing style and it works for that.
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7/16/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Pinot in the City (Chicago, IL): Walk-around tasting, brief note. Very ripe with a fat character, and not quite the density to pull it off well.
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7/2/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
A bit rounder and fuller than I remember it being.
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6/10/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Full red fruit on the nose. A touch clipped on the palate and a touch hard.
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5/8/2019 - synfinatic wrote:
Definitely too young. Need to wait 2 years. Have more bottles and will try again in 2021
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4/18/2019 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted again at the winery. Yes, I do visit frequently as a wine club member. Ben Christianson said it best, “delicious”.
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2/19/2019 - MarcEBeaudoin wrote:
Hint of secondary fermentation in bottle. Clean and fresh; soft cherry notes. Dusty finish.
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2/19/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Man that is delicious.
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2/18/2019 - grapenomad wrote: 88 Points
Going on to the Pinots. Very aromatic. The color of the wine is showing the color of the fruit - leaning towards dark forest berries and underripe plum with hints of orange peel, flint and Earl Grey tea leaves. Not an overly complex wine, but well-balanced and quaffable. Finishes off a bit bitter, but I'm not complaining too much.
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2/3/2019 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened up a bit since last tasting. Very favorable QPR.
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12/17/2018 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 88 Points
Slightly prickly right out of the bottle (almost the sensation of little bubbles). Settled down on Day 2, better on Day 3. Seems like an interesting little Oregon Pinot with enough freshness. Just muddled at this stage for me.
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11/11/2018 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
In store tasting at Bassins MacArthurs in DC. Very nice right out of the bottle. Ready to enjoy young.
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10/18/2018 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Lovely nose of raspberry, strawberry, sandalwood and aniseed. The palate is fine and lacy, with good definition and persistence. Drinking beautifully straight out the gate.
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9/23/2018 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted yesterday at the winery. This was my first Willamette Valley Pinot sample from this vintage, and bodes well for 2017.
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