2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
An exemplary vintage, the 2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay bursts with aroma of pear, ginger, and hay straw. On the tongue, zippy lemon curd, passionfruit, and papaya highlight the grandiose mouth feel and length of finish.
Vineyard Notes
The Olivet Lane Vineyard is a heritage site, with the distinction of being among the earliest plantings of Pinot noir in the Russian River Valley. The vineyard was established in 1975 by the Pellegrini family, with 30 acres planted to heirloom clone Old Wente Chardonnay. The Olivet Lane Vineyard features an undulating benchland of well-drained, gravelly, clay loam soil. Located just east of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the vineyard is situated in the heart of Russian River Valley Appellation. The fog that defines our growing region lingers in our low-elevation neighborhood, protecting it under a cool white blanket from evening through the morning. These long, cool nights retain natural acidity in the grapes and support the distinctive bright fruit character of the wines.
Winemaking Notes
Our Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay is meant for one reason and one reason alone, to provide an unbiased demonstration of the beauty and grace of Chardonnay on this heritage vineyard. We utilize stainless steel drums rather than tanks for fermentation, allowing us to experiment with different yeasts for complexity of flavor and sur lie aging methods for enhanced texture. For all intents and purposes, this wine is made in the exact same fashion as our classic Olivet Lane Chardonnay with 2 points of variation: stainless steel drums instead of oak, and no malolactic conversion. The ability to fully incorporate lees into the wine with a barrel stirring wand, which is not an option with tank fermentations, lends to immense texture and length in the back of the pallet, while engulfing the front and mid palate with fruit flavors.
Specs
Food Pairing Suggestion: Grilled trout with ginger and scallion, or salad niçoise.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
AVA: Russian River Valley
Aging: 10 months in steel drum & tank
Clone: Old Wente
Soil: Gravelly, clay loam
Alcohol: 13.6%
TA: 7.31 g/L
pH: 3.62
Harvested: September 28, 2021
Bottled: July 27, 2022
2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Hand-crafted to perfection, our Olivet Lane Chardonnay involves modern-day winemaking techniques that capture the distinct characteristics of our historic estate vineyard.
Tasting Notes
Truly a bounty of complexity, the 2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay jumps into the nose with lemon verbena, pear, sage, nutmeg, and toasted coconut. Upon the first sip, pralines, caramel, baked apples, and star anise ring in symphony with the bright acid, conveying lemon curd, granny smith apple, and white peach.
Winemaker Notes
2018 proved to be a very challenging vintage, but rewarding flavors awaited those who were patient. A cool late summer and fall delayed ripening, and late September rain, left many scrambling to pick their fruit early. But no more rain came until just before Thanksgiving, allowing additional hangtime to further develop flavors. This Chardonnay was split into three distinct fermentation lots, utilizing a selection of different yeasts to create layers of flavors and aromas. Bottling for this lot was delayed due to Covid 19, therefore adding an additional 4 months to its age time, which further developed barrel-driven characteristics and lengthened the finish of this Chardonnay.
Specs
Food Pairing Notes: Crepes Savoyarde, also great with medium soft cheese and quince paste.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Vineyard Designation: Olivet Lane Vineyard
Harvest Date: October 20, 2018
TA: 5.86 g/L
pH: 3.48
Aging: 21 months in French Oak, 31% New
Clone: Old Wente
Soil: Gravelly, clay loam
Alcohol: 14.2%
Bottling Date: July 29, 2020
Vegan Friendly
What’s Included
6-bottles:
3x - 2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
3x - 2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Case:
6x - 2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
6x - 2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Price Comparison
Unoaked Chardonnay - $50
Chardonnay - $65/bottle — not for sale on winery website
The Pellegrini Family has been associated with every tier of the wine business since the early part of the 20th Century — as wine producers, grape sellers, importers, and wholesale distributors. In 1915, Nello Pellegrini immigrated from Italy, eventually landing in the Santa Rosa Plains, a sister city to his home town of Lucca, Tuscany. In 1925, the first Pellegrini wine was made from Sonoma County grapes in a gravity run winery in San Francisco. Upon the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, they were issued Winegrower License No.4.
In 1972, Vincent & Aida Pellegrini purchased a 70-acre plum and apple orchard on West Olivet Road in the Santa Rosa Plains. The first vines Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were planted in 1975, using heirloom Martini and Wente Clones respectively, establishing Olivet Lane Vineyard as one of the first Pinot Noir pioneers in Russian River Valley.
The Russian River Valley In the early 19th century, immigrants from Mediterranean countries descended upon the region, planting the first vineyards. Its proximity to the coastal influences of the Pacific Ocean makes it ideal for the growing of Pinot Noir. The region officially gained AVA status in 1983, recognizing this area as one of the premier unique cool climate growing regions in Sonoma County & California.
50 years after its first vines were planted, Olivet Lane is home to the region’s oldest still-producing Pinot Noir vines. The secret to its longevity is being blessed by the perfect combination of terroir and climate. Widely recognized as a prime example of the classic style of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Olivet Lane has been a prized grape source for many of the Valley’s Pinot Noir luminaries — Williams Selyem, Merry Edwards, Gary Farrell, MacRostie — in addition to our own acclaimed Olivet Lane Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and 9 other distinctly unique wines from these grapes.
Pellegrini Wines are produced from grapes sourced from within Sonoma County, and have earned a reputation for consistent quality. In addition to R.R.V. appellation blends, under our Single Vineyard Selections we produce small lots of vineyard & varietal designated wine from unique vineyards, farmed by farmers we enjoy partnering on. Here, we source varietals such as Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Carignane. Our winemaking style emphasizes balance over power and exhibits regional characteristics representative of each appellation.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Olivet Lane Chardonnays from Pellegrini Winery
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Sonoma Coast Russian River Valley per the bottle
Appearance- light yellow, nose is apple blossom with underlying citrus. Tasting notes. A lot of unoaked Chardonnays are very bright and acidic with the citrus taking the lead. This one is a bit different in that, for me, the apple is the star of the show. Not green apple, a semi-sweet apple, like a gala or a cosmic crisp. It’s still dry, not sweet at all. The bright citrus acidity is still there, but I don’t recall having an unoaked chard where the fruit was this forward. I think it tasted best cold right out of the fridge. It also paired very well with brie (probably a no brainer with the apple profile). This isn’t a terribly complex wine, but there’s still some minerality on the mid palate and finish. This would be a good choice for anyone who does not appreciate the bracing acidity that some unoaked Chards can bring. Year is 2021, I would guess this is in ‘drink now’ territory. I’m camping, so no pics.
@mtb002 thanks for review, and glad that you are camping. In what? For me I traveled in a truck camper but mostly in fall/winter. Used to be pretty easy except for the frozen-ness. Summers too hot, and also after Covid many RV parks became full from people leaving houses and apartments, so had to call ahead to see if they had any space for an overnight camper.
@pmarin
I’m in a Class C at the state fair. It’s a bit of a family tradition. My two middle kids are in college and are in marching band, so I may be taking it up to tail gate this fall as well.
I was delighted to be tapped for the coveted Lab Rat duty. Always a pleasure!
So, right into it….
Looks like today’s Casemate offer is a mixed case. I get to review the 2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay.
This is a new vintner for me, and not sure if current information available on their website applies, as 2023 is as far back as it goes. Its pedigree is a good one – Russian River Valley produces some fine stuff!
After chilling from delivery, the initial pop and pour visuals show a light straw color with well-defined legs, in keeping with the 14.2% ACV.
So there’s little chance of heavy oak and/or malolactic fermentation.
On the nose, I get honeysuckle, pear, soft apple (Mcintosh?), and a bit of a floral note.
On the palate, the word is….intriguing!! There’s a lot going on – confirming the nose, on the pear and apple, but with a surprise of lemon zest. I was surprised at the tartness, and initially a little off-putting. Nice mouth feel, and one heck of a finish – probably the longest of a chardonnay, in my experience – a good 45-60 seconds of lingering complexity.
The initial tasting was at approximately 40 degrees. Allowing it to warm to 55 changes it only somewhat. The tart citrus diminishes, allowing for a more rounded approach and appreciation.
Food pairings – spicy Asian, creamy fettuccini, halibut or grouper on the seafood side, oysters with the right sides. Quite frankly, it’s hard to pin down.
Oak – this appears to be the oaked brother of the 2021: there’s a little, enough to give it some character, and add to the intriguing qualities. It has aged well, for an eight-year white, a testament to its quality.
Full disclosure, chardonnay is not my go-to varietal. This one would not be my preference. But for those that like something out of the norm, and presents such a flavor palate, this could be quite desirable.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Olivet Lane Chardonnays from Pellegrini Winery - $40 = 20.00%
WE on the 2021 unoaked…90 points. This easy-drinking, medium-bodied wine aged in steel barrels. It offers subtle baked apple and cinnamon aromas followed by a blend of light golden and green apple flavors on a relatively soft texture. — Jim Gordon 12/31/23
RWS, a recent take on the 2018 oaked…The 2018 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Vineyard Oaked Chardonnay opens with a very pleasing aroma of pear, lemon, apple, nutmeg, some light buttery and floral notes plus touches of toasty oak, vanilla and even a bit of minerality. It’s a great start!
Tasting the wine reveals it to be lush, rich, smooth and creamy with good depth and balance and similar flavors to the nose. It’s really excellent and quite harmonious with the extra bottle age on it, but I wouldn’t let this one age too much longer either.
It ends dry, very long and lip-smacking on the dynamic finish. We rate this as a high 9 Taste Rating (93 points). 6/15/26
@InFrom@kaolis
An AI bot has been implemented; recall when I asked a few offers ago about a highlight. Perhaps it was just a whisper, or to the mods. I had to nuke one AI LRR on this earlier today to post what is there now.
I was once in their tasting room and found some Chardonnay on an end-of-vintage sale. I bought their last case. It was one of the best Chardonnay purchases I ever made. To me, this is an Auto-Buy.
Olivet Lane Chardonnays from Pellegrini Winery
2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast
Vineyard Notes
Winemaking Notes
Specs
2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Winemaker Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Unoaked Chardonnay - $50
Chardonnay - $65/bottle — not for sale on winery website
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Sep 8
Olivet Lane Chardonnays from Pellegrini Winery
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay
2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay
2021 Olivet Lane Unoaked Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast Russian River Valley per the bottle
Appearance- light yellow, nose is apple blossom with underlying citrus. Tasting notes. A lot of unoaked Chardonnays are very bright and acidic with the citrus taking the lead. This one is a bit different in that, for me, the apple is the star of the show. Not green apple, a semi-sweet apple, like a gala or a cosmic crisp. It’s still dry, not sweet at all. The bright citrus acidity is still there, but I don’t recall having an unoaked chard where the fruit was this forward. I think it tasted best cold right out of the fridge. It also paired very well with brie (probably a no brainer with the apple profile). This isn’t a terribly complex wine, but there’s still some minerality on the mid palate and finish. This would be a good choice for anyone who does not appreciate the bracing acidity that some unoaked Chards can bring. Year is 2021, I would guess this is in ‘drink now’ territory. I’m camping, so no pics.
@mtb002
/image Montalban Star Trek revenge best served cold
@mtb002 thanks for review, and glad that you are camping. In what? For me I traveled in a truck camper but mostly in fall/winter. Used to be pretty easy except for the frozen-ness. Summers too hot, and also after Covid many RV parks became full from people leaving houses and apartments, so had to call ahead to see if they had any space for an overnight camper.
@pmarin
I’m in a Class C at the state fair. It’s a bit of a family tradition. My two middle kids are in college and are in marching band, so I may be taking it up to tail gate this fall as well.
I was delighted to be tapped for the coveted Lab Rat duty. Always a pleasure!
So, right into it….
Looks like today’s Casemate offer is a mixed case. I get to review the 2018 Olivet Lane Chardonnay.
This is a new vintner for me, and not sure if current information available on their website applies, as 2023 is as far back as it goes. Its pedigree is a good one – Russian River Valley produces some fine stuff!
After chilling from delivery, the initial pop and pour visuals show a light straw color with well-defined legs, in keeping with the 14.2% ACV.
So there’s little chance of heavy oak and/or malolactic fermentation.
On the nose, I get honeysuckle, pear, soft apple (Mcintosh?), and a bit of a floral note.
On the palate, the word is….intriguing!! There’s a lot going on – confirming the nose, on the pear and apple, but with a surprise of lemon zest. I was surprised at the tartness, and initially a little off-putting. Nice mouth feel, and one heck of a finish – probably the longest of a chardonnay, in my experience – a good 45-60 seconds of lingering complexity.
The initial tasting was at approximately 40 degrees. Allowing it to warm to 55 changes it only somewhat. The tart citrus diminishes, allowing for a more rounded approach and appreciation.
Food pairings – spicy Asian, creamy fettuccini, halibut or grouper on the seafood side, oysters with the right sides. Quite frankly, it’s hard to pin down.
Oak – this appears to be the oaked brother of the 2021: there’s a little, enough to give it some character, and add to the intriguing qualities. It has aged well, for an eight-year white, a testament to its quality.
Full disclosure, chardonnay is not my go-to varietal. This one would not be my preference. But for those that like something out of the norm, and presents such a flavor palate, this could be quite desirable.
Cheers!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Olivet Lane Chardonnays from Pellegrini Winery - $40 = 20.00%
Y’all probably saw this by now but hey…
WE on the 2021 unoaked…90 points. This easy-drinking, medium-bodied wine aged in steel barrels. It offers subtle baked apple and cinnamon aromas followed by a blend of light golden and green apple flavors on a relatively soft texture. — Jim Gordon 12/31/23
RWS, a recent take on the 2018 oaked…The 2018 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Vineyard Oaked Chardonnay opens with a very pleasing aroma of pear, lemon, apple, nutmeg, some light buttery and floral notes plus touches of toasty oak, vanilla and even a bit of minerality. It’s a great start!
Tasting the wine reveals it to be lush, rich, smooth and creamy with good depth and balance and similar flavors to the nose. It’s really excellent and quite harmonious with the extra bottle age on it, but I wouldn’t let this one age too much longer either.
It ends dry, very long and lip-smacking on the dynamic finish. We rate this as a high 9 Taste Rating (93 points). 6/15/26
…that’s about it…
fwiw
Who put up the Rat banner as “2021 Olivier Lanes Unoaked Chardonnay” Asking for a friend
@kaolis One of Sir Laurence’s favorite spots whilst in the States…
@InFrom @kaolis
An AI bot has been implemented; recall when I asked a few offers ago about a highlight. Perhaps it was just a whisper, or to the mods. I had to nuke one AI LRR on this earlier today to post what is there now.
@kaolis Should I nuke it?
Ahh, now I see. the BOLD from the mtb002 LRR was me, the misspelling was from mtb002 and I didn’t catch it.
@kaolis
Sorry, I don’t know if that was me or autocorrect. Glad it’s worth a giggle.
I was once in their tasting room and found some Chardonnay on an end-of-vintage sale. I bought their last case. It was one of the best Chardonnay purchases I ever made. To me, this is an Auto-Buy.
We’ve been going through the Chards this summer, so joining the IL buyers for this one…
/giphy full-leaded-bat