A brooding character is the throughline in the Failla house style, and the Occidental Ridge Pinot Noir shows dark, smoky aromas of frankincense, singed violets and earthen elements of sous bois, rose hips and salty sea air. The palate is textured and spiced with spicy blood orange, smoky soy, hoisin sauces, black tea, and an intense minerality that lifts the finish.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard is another magical wine from this site. Deep, pliant and resonant to the core, the 2022 is immediately alluring. Succulent dark red cherry, plum, spice, coffee, licorice, lavender and menthol fill out the layers effortlessly. The Occidental Ridge is, quite simply, a drop-dead gorgeous beauty.

This intense Pinot brings on the sultry aromas, with baked cherry, toasted nori, black tea and grilled mushroom notes on the complex and evolving nose. The palate is equally vivacious, with the plush tannins balancing nervy acidity and flavors of crushed blackberry, cola and cedar. Give this a few years in the cellar and it will dance beautifully with anything mushroom or truffle-scented. — Tom Capo