Failla 'Tin Barn' Syrah 2017

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Failla is the project of winemaker Ehren Jordan,
focusing on cool climate sites on the Sonoma Coast and world class vineyards in Oregon. Eschewing traditional routes to a winemaking education, Ehren instead worked his way up the vertical integration ladder. His first winery job was at Joseph Phelps Vineyards as a tour guide. Three years later, after stints giving tours, working in the cellar, making sales calls with then VP, Bruce Neyers, and managing retail sales, Ehren finally left Phelps to try his hand at winemaking in the venerable vineyards of the Rhône Valley. Celebrated oenologist Jean-Luc Columbo took a chance on Ehren, whom he had met the prior year. A Francophile since adolescence, Ehren threw himself into all aspects of what seemed like turn-of-the-century winemaking in age-old caves and endurance-sport viticulture on the terraced hillsides of Cornas. During the sodden 1992 and 1993 vintages Ehren helped make Les Ruchets, Columbo’s own label, and visited many of Columbo’s clients, among some of France’s most esteemed wine brains. Ehren returned state-side to work for pioneering, winemaker Helen Turley on the Sonoma Coast, and over the subsequent years, he purchased and planted his own property in Fort Ross Seaview, transitioned to Head Winemaker and General Manager of Turley Wine Cellars (where he re-sided for almost 18 years), was the founding winemaking of Neyers Winery, and facilitated buyer trips to Europe for Kermit Lynch. As if he wasn't busy enough with three day-jobs, Ehren decided to start Failla in 1998 and later Day Zinfandel in 2011. He has paved an influential path in winemaking with his long resume of notable winemaking and viticulture jobs, leading to the honour of Winemaker of the Year in 2008 and continual high scores from critics. Ehren now exclusively farms and makes wine for his own labels in California and Oregon.