We had the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from Failla in the June 2024 case and you can refresh your memory on winemaker Ehren Jordan’s CV here. Suffice it to say, he is a rock star winemaker. While his winery is located in Napa (despite him making no Napa wines) the fact that he is a pilot means that he can devote the requisite time in his Oregon vineyard and winery to produce wines that are worthy of their Failla label. And because vineyard land and the grapes one can buy from them are still less expensive than those in Sonoma, the quality-to-price ratio is even higher. Sourced from Failla’s Patton Valley Vineyard in Tualatin Hills AVA, Seven Springs Vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills AVA and the Chehalem Mountain Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, it has all three of the main types of soils contained in the Willamette Valley: Laurelwood Loam (Loess), Basalt/Volcanic and marine sedimentary, respectively, and is therefore a true representation of the whole of the Willamette Valley. The biodynamically farmed grapes are native-yeast fermented with 25%-ish whole clusters in temperature controlled stainless steel and aged in 10% new French oak barrels. The result is flowers, sweet red berry fruit, white pepper, blood orange, mint, chalk and slate all melded together with silky tannins. Would be amazing with duck or pork with a reduction sauce.