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Yuki Vineyard is an organic site owned and managed by Freeman Winery’s Tokyo-born winemaker, Akiko Freeman. While the label says, “Sonoma Coast,” the Yuki Vineyard is actually located in Sonoma County’s newest sub-appellation, the West Sonoma Coast. Like most vineyards in this extreme coastal topography, the vines are planted along a ridge at an elevation of about 400 m. Surrounded by an old-growth redwood forest, the vineyard is subject to the mercy of the Pacific Ocean and its winds, rains, and fogs - as well as sunshine and cool temperatures. Challenging conditions make for a vibrant and energetic wine. Moreover, at 13.2% ABV, this wine is a great food partner, emphasizing vibrant, fresh, and exotic flavors and mouthwatering acidity.
Xander Soren is the mind behind a radical wine venture that’s been years in the making: developing a high-end Pinot Noir designed specifically to pair with Japanese cuisine. After a career in Silicon Valley that included over 20 years with Apple, where he worked on such iconic products as the iPod, Garageband, and iPhone ringtones, he turned his attention to a more genteel set of passions: wine, Japanese culture and Japanese cuisine. Yet his vision and business model are a far cry not only from fast-paced Silicon Valley but from what’s typical in California wine as well. For in addition to honing his brand to appeal to Japanese connoisseurs, he’s decided to limit his production to around 600 cases per vintage - a boutique wine business for sure!
For Xander’s style of Pinot Noir, he is focusing on cooler appellations, especially the Santa Rita Hills, which, because of its unique terroir, can produce wines that rival those of Burgundy. Xander sources fruit from historic vineyards such as La Encantada, Sanford & Benedict, Sierra Mar, and Olivet Lane. He is also honored to use grapes from Yuki Vineyard, owned by Japanese producer Akiko Freeman on the Sonoma Coast.
Xander’s winemaker is Shalini Sekhar, a rising star (2015 Winemaker of the Year at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2019 Winemaker to Watch) who has made wine at Williams Selyem, Stag’s Leap, and her own label called Ottavino. She also produces wine - especially Pinot Noir — for a number of small boutique labels through her custom crush operation. Winemaking at Xander Soren is non-intrusive and labor-intensive, which necessarily results in limited production. Not only vineyard blocks but clones are elevated and aged separately in carefully-selected French oak barrels and blended before bottling to ensure excellent balance. Refreshing acidity, bright flavors balanced by darker notes and character, and, above all, lower levels of alcohol are necessary to pair with sukiyaki, wagyu, tempura, and, perhaps, even sushi. Many of the wines are produced in amounts of less than 100 cases.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Sonoma Coast |
| Winery | Xander Soren |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Color | Red |
| Varietal(s) | Pinot Noir |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.2 x 29.5 |
| Case Size | 34.5 x 26.0 x 30.0 |
| Alcohol | 13.2% |
| Product Code | BP19YUK |
| UPC | NONE |
Aromas of fresh raspberries and plums are layered with notes of black tea and cinnamon spice. On the palate, the flavors are vibrant, fresh, and exotic. Fresh acidity, minerality, and silky tannins make for a long, sustained finish.
Handpicked grapes were destemmed but not crushed before fermentation on native yeasts. The wine aged 17 months in 20% new French oak.