A typical Russian River Pinot, the 2011 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch is juicy, generous and expressive. Dark red fruit, sweet spices and cola all jump from the glass. The Keefer is arguably the most exuberant of these 2011 Pinots from Failla. Accordingly, it will drink well pretty much upon release and for at least a handful of years beyond. I don’t see a whole lot of pedigree for aging here, but the wine’s near-term appeal is undeniable. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. Ehren Jordan is one of those people who are maddeningly talented at many things. Jordan recently left his post at Turley, where he spent nearly 20 years making a dizzying array of superb Zinfandels. At Failla, which Jordan owns with his wife Anne-Marie, the focus is on cool-climate Chardonnays and Pinots, rendered in a range that approximates Turley when it comes to the number of different bottlings. Did I mention Jordan is versed in the classics and is also a licensed pilot? Jordan wants to spend more time at Failla, and I believe it, given the breadth of this range. Frankly, I can’t imagine how Ehren took care of similarly large portfolios at both Turley and Failla while maintaining a sense of sanity. It will be interesting to see how things develop at Failla. The wines are already stellar, as I hope these notes amply demonstrate. Simply put, Failla is a reference point winery for the Sonoma Coast. This is as good as it gets.Tel. (707) 963-0530