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While Xander is labeled as a Santa Barbara County appellation wine, it is really an expression of a small corner of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. This is because the three vineyards from which it was sourced – Sanford & Benedict, La Encantada, and Fiddlestix – are neighbors along the Santa Rosa Road that runs through this end of the Santa Ynez Valley. It is so cool here that daytime temperatures in summer rarely rise above the low 20s C. But the cool climate is the secret behind this elegant Pinot Noir, so full of grace, tension, and lift. Fresh aromas of raspberries and red cherries delight with accents of rose petals. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing but deep with layers of red and dark fruit set off by exotic notes of anise, licorice, and mint. Silky tannins and acidity contribute to a long, textured finish.
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) | Santa Barbara County |
| Winery | Xander Soren |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| 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 | 13.5% |
| Product Code | BP20XP |
| UPC | NONE |
The wine aged in 35% new French oak for 17 months.