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Planted in 1973 by Vincent Pellegrini, Olivet Lane is one of the oldest existing Pinot Noir vineyards in Sonoma County. In the “middle reach” section of the Russian River Valley, the site is moderately cool but not as cold as sites closer to the coast. Olivet Lane’s fruit is highly coveted by several important vintners, including Gary Farrell, Williams-Selyem, and Merry Edwards. Handpicked grapes were gently destemmed - but not crushed - before fermentation in stainless steel and aging in 25% new oak for 17 months. Aromas of fresh raspberries and violets mingle with notes of mint, slate, and baking spice. On the palate, juicy, vibrant fruit flavors are supported by fresh acidity, leading to silky tannins in the 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) | Russian River Valley (Sonoma) |
| 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 | 13.9% |
| Product Code | BP20OLP |
| UPC | NONE |
Brooding aromas of red cherry, raspberry and dusty earth, with a subtle notes of spicy pink peppercorn and sage. Bright acidity and chalky tannins underpin flavors of crunchy pomegranate, black tea, and cigar box. This youthful and complex wine finishes bright with lingering notes of cherry and spice.
The wine is certified as California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) and was aged for 17 months, with 25% of the wine aged in new barrels.