FEL Wines is the newborn of the Cliff Lede duo of wine estates. Lede began his wine adventures in Napa in 2002, making Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. I distinctly remembering visiting in 2006 and tasting those first wines. They were good, so it isn’t too surprising the company’s expansion into the Anderson Valley is making good juice. That is especially true as these wines hail from the esteemed Savoy Vineyard. What is surprising is just how seriously impressive the wines are already! Having just tasted some of the wines from the winery’s sophomore effort, I’m definitely planning on keeping up with them. Seek out and enjoy!

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FEL 2015 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard Anderson Valley 14.4% $70
I often find West Coast Pinot Noir a bit same-y. Whoa. This wine definitely escapes that category. It is a full-bodied and enrapturing wine with a massive swathe of scents hovering over the glass. There are mulberries and boysenberries with overtones of licorice. This suave, creamy and juicy bottling is sophisticated and harmonious thanks to its precise acidic detailing. It’s hard to resist now, but it will definitely cellar well. 805 cases made.
Drink: 2017-22

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FEL 2015 Chardonnay Savoy Vineyard Anderson Valley 14.3% $48
This wine isn’t shy to show its breadth of flavor and strength of body. Like it’s Pinot sibling, it’s not shy with its flavors of bitter walnut pith, whole-wheat bread crumbs and toasted Irish oatmeal. Some perky pit fruit (white peaches and yellow plums) surfaces on the medium finish. With its fine refreshment, even many an ABC-er (Anything But Chardonnay) would enjoy this classy white. Only 203 cases produced.
Drink: 2017-19