One of the more delicate wines in the range, the 2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge is laced with tobacco, crushed flowers and dried herbs. The 2011 comes across as a bit fragile, but it is quite beautiful. I will not be surprised if the 2011 turns out even better than this note suggests once the whole clusters are a little bit better integrated. There is a lot to like here. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. 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