Winemaker Notes
Keefer Ranch Vineyard was planted in 1988 by Marcy Keefer and her husband Robert, a retired doctor who took night classes on grape farming before diving into the deep end and establishing the site. Eleven years later, a handshake deal with a certain Pittsburgher would create Failla's first vineyard-designate Pinot Noir.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
Plush, featuring creamy notes that accent the concentrated cherry tart, dark plum and currant flavors, taking on a pastrylike richness. Sandalwood and spice details linger on the finish, with chocolate hints. Drink now through 2023.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
One of the backward wines in the lineup was the 2017 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch, which has a smoky, underbrush, and black fruit-driven style as well as good mid-palate depth, integrated acidity, and solid overall balance. Nevertheless, it’s tight and closed on the palate and will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.