2016 Failla Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
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Tasting notes
Starting out with the appellation Chardonnay, which was bottled in June of last year, the 2016 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast sees a shorter élevage as well as a smaller percentage of new oak. It’s a terrific Chardonnay that has clean, classy, layered notes of orchard fruits, pineapple, and citrus, with hints of leafy herbs. It’s a great introduction to the wines of this estate. It’s also made in a reasonable quantity with roughly 3,000 cases produced. Readers looking for a serious lineup of single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay that have a distinctly Burgundian vibe need to check out these releases from Ehren Jordan and Savanna Wright. Failla owns prime terroirs on the Sonoma Coast, as well as has access to some of the best vineyards in the region. While these aren’t for those craving big, powerful wines, they have plenty of intensity as well as singular profiles. In addition to the Sonoma releases, Jordan’s Oregon releases and a few Rhône variety wines are also included in this report.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast) is an attractive, mid-weight wine to drink now and over the next few years. Soft, supple and pliant, the 2016 offers good depth in a forward, open-knit style. Hints of dried lemon, apricot and dried flowers linger on the close. The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay was aged in a combination of oak, steel, concrete and a touch of terra cotta, with some of the lots seeing a bit of skin contact. Vineyard sources are Bohan, Olivet and Keefer.