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Pellegrini Family Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Bob Pellegrini |
| Web site | www.pellegrinisonoma.com |
| Link to this site |
Bob Pellegrini planted the now heritage Olivet Lane Vineyard on Olivet Rd in the Russian River Valley in the early 1970s. A Pinot Noir is bottled from the vineyard under the Olivet Lane label under the umbrella of wines produced by Pellegrini Family Vineyards (see listing). This is a consistently fine Pinot Noir priced at or under $30 and offered on many restaurant lists. It can be purchased at the winery's tasting room which is open daily or on the website. Tours of the vineyard are available by appointment.
Some Olivet Lane grapes go to Merry Edwards who has worked with the fruit from this vineyard for many years, and most recently, beginning with the 2010 vintage, grapes were used for a vineyard-designated bottling by Williams Selyem.
The winemaker is Daniel Fitzgerald, who joined the Pellegrini winemaking team in 2008. He has a B.S. in Enology from California State University at Fresno and has worked at wineries in both Australia and the U.S. (Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Williams Selyem).
Articles About Pellegrini Family Vineyards
Memoirs of a Wine Trip Well-Taken (6.5 11/26/2006)
Mining for Good Under-$30 Pinot: Inflation Tamers (8.32 3/1/2011)
Olivet Lane Pinot Noir: Best Ever in 2007 (8.2 10/3/2009)
Olivet Lane Vineyard (7.11 1/28/2009)
Pellegrini Olivet Lane Heritage Pinot Noir (6.41 10/4/2007)
Some Current Russian River Valley Appellation Offerings (8.45 11/1/2011)
Tasting Olivet Lane Vineyard Pinot Noir (7.11 1/28/2009)
Reviewed Wines
2009 Pellegrini Family Vineyards Olivet Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.4%
alc., $28.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. A mix of red and black stone fruits and
berries on the nose and palate with an underpinning of earth, anise and leaf, reflecting nicely this
unique terroir and clonal combination. Soft in the mouth, finishing with a dry, mildly tannic finish.
More enticing over time in the glass. Good (+).
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.93% alc., $28. 49% Occidental
Road, 33% Burnside Road, 14% BCD and 4% Pierres vineyards.
·
Bright Bing cherry and fresh strawberry
aromas with whiffs of oak and dark chocolate. Discreetly intense red cherry and red berry flavors with a slight
confected (Red Vines), earthy, and dark chocolate undertone. Reserved, fine-grain tannins. Well-crafted, but
only of moderate flavor interest. Decent (+).
Reviewed March 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Reserve Cuvée Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 168 cases, to
be released in 2010. Packaged in a heavier, taller bottle which
makes a statement. More new oak aging than the regular Estate
bottling.
·
This is a more decadent version of the estate wine. The fruit
intensity is ramped up on the nose offering a melange of dark red
cherries and berries with a hint of spice and a subtle floral scent.
Delicious red plum and black cherry flavors expand in the mouth, showing a
mild firmness, density and chewiness, yet still retaining a silky sensuality. A
very polished wine that is beautifully crafted and approachable now although
patience will bring even more rewards. Definitely worth the reserve
designation and the best Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate bottling to date.
Reviewed October 3, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Pellegrini Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH
3.48, 2,600 cases, $35, now released. Aged 16 months in
33% new French oak, mainly Francois Freres and
Rousseau.
·
Moderately deep reddish-purple robe.
Intoxicating nose right out of the bottle showing off bright
Bing cherry, a hint of strawberry jam on toast and the faintest oak. The
enticing medium-bodied core of red fruits are touched with citric peel and
sweet oak. The wine flows like silk over the palate, offering vim and vigor
from the refreshing acidity. Soft tannins make for easy current drinkability,
but this can age.
Reviewed October 3, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $36.
·
Bright crimson robe. Pleasing aromas of
red Pinot fruits, especially Bing cherry, oak spice and vanilla. Cherry driven
juicy flavors pushing ripeness to the edge with a hint of raisin and
roasted fruit. Easy to drink with fine-grained tannins and a refreshingly
clean finish.
Reviewed January 28, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $36. 10% whole clusters placed with remainder of the de-stemmed
fruit and lightly crushed. After a 3 day cold maceration, the
vats were inoculated with a selected strain of yeast. Fermentation
lasted 12 days with traditional hand punch downs. Aged 11 months in a
combination of French and Eastern European oak, 33% new.
·
Sensuous aromatics featuring Bing
cherry, anise, toast and strawberry. The core of red fruits is tasty and forward but elegant in presentation.
The wine is supple in the mouth with pleasing persistence and has a refreshing acid lift on the finish. Impeccable
balance. Ready to drink now, it will remain a really lovely wine over time. With a comfortable
price point, this is one to buy by the case.
Reviewed October 4, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $30.
·
Pretty flashy, with aromas of earth, leather and
spiced black cherries. Styled with finesse over fruit heaviness and great
verve. So juicy and tasty you will want to “nibble” at it.
Reviewed October 4, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$30.
·
This is a fine go-to Pinot
Noir that is often priced several dollars less than suggested retail. The wine
is not over-bearing or tiresome to drink and compliments food nicely. The
cherry fruit is of great breeding and the ethereal style is appealing.
Reviewed July 30, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$30 Kevin loves working
with Olivet Lane fruit for he says the wine makes itself; no tricks,
additives, modifications required. 10% whole clusters used. Aged 11
months in French and Eastern European oak, 33% new.
·
This has been in bottle
only a short time so will only get better. Still, it is pretty flashy already, with
aromas of earth, leather, and spiced black cherries. This is a Pinot that has
finesse over fruit heaviness and great verve and style. It is a little showier than
the 2004. So juicy and tasty you want to ‘nibble’ at it.
Reviewed November 26, 2006
ARTICLE »
2004 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 2,900 cases, $24
·
This Pinot has an attractive
nose of herbs, cola, spice and cherries. Flavors of dried fruit, herbs and cherry-pie filling are linger
on the finish which has plenty of zip and zing. As Mick Jagger would say, “It’s only Pinot Noir, but I like
it!”
Reviewed November 26, 2006
ARTICLE »
2009 Pellegrini Family Vineyards Olivet Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., $28. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. A mix of red and black stone fruits and berries on the nose and palate with an underpinning of earth, anise and leaf, reflecting nicely this unique terroir and clonal combination. Soft in the mouth, finishing with a dry, mildly tannic finish. More enticing over time in the glass. Good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.93% alc., $28. 49% Occidental Road, 33% Burnside Road, 14% BCD and 4% Pierres vineyards. · Bright Bing cherry and fresh strawberry aromas with whiffs of oak and dark chocolate. Discreetly intense red cherry and red berry flavors with a slight confected (Red Vines), earthy, and dark chocolate undertone. Reserved, fine-grain tannins. Well-crafted, but only of moderate flavor interest. Decent (+). Reviewed March 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Reserve Cuvée Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 168 cases, to be released in 2010. Packaged in a heavier, taller bottle which makes a statement. More new oak aging than the regular Estate bottling. · This is a more decadent version of the estate wine. The fruit intensity is ramped up on the nose offering a melange of dark red cherries and berries with a hint of spice and a subtle floral scent. Delicious red plum and black cherry flavors expand in the mouth, showing a mild firmness, density and chewiness, yet still retaining a silky sensuality. A very polished wine that is beautifully crafted and approachable now although patience will bring even more rewards. Definitely worth the reserve designation and the best Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate bottling to date. Reviewed October 3, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Pellegrini Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Estate Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.48, 2,600 cases, $35, now released. Aged 16 months in 33% new French oak, mainly Francois Freres and Rousseau. · Moderately deep reddish-purple robe. Intoxicating nose right out of the bottle showing off bright Bing cherry, a hint of strawberry jam on toast and the faintest oak. The enticing medium-bodied core of red fruits are touched with citric peel and sweet oak. The wine flows like silk over the palate, offering vim and vigor from the refreshing acidity. Soft tannins make for easy current drinkability, but this can age. Reviewed October 3, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $36. · Bright crimson robe. Pleasing aromas of red Pinot fruits, especially Bing cherry, oak spice and vanilla. Cherry driven juicy flavors pushing ripeness to the edge with a hint of raisin and roasted fruit. Easy to drink with fine-grained tannins and a refreshingly clean finish. Reviewed January 28, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $36. 10% whole clusters placed with remainder of the de-stemmed fruit and lightly crushed. After a 3 day cold maceration, the vats were inoculated with a selected strain of yeast. Fermentation lasted 12 days with traditional hand punch downs. Aged 11 months in a combination of French and Eastern European oak, 33% new. · Sensuous aromatics featuring Bing cherry, anise, toast and strawberry. The core of red fruits is tasty and forward but elegant in presentation. The wine is supple in the mouth with pleasing persistence and has a refreshing acid lift on the finish. Impeccable balance. Ready to drink now, it will remain a really lovely wine over time. With a comfortable price point, this is one to buy by the case. Reviewed October 4, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $30. · Pretty flashy, with aromas of earth, leather and spiced black cherries. Styled with finesse over fruit heaviness and great verve. So juicy and tasty you will want to “nibble” at it. Reviewed October 4, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$30. · This is a fine go-to Pinot Noir that is often priced several dollars less than suggested retail. The wine is not over-bearing or tiresome to drink and compliments food nicely. The cherry fruit is of great breeding and the ethereal style is appealing. Reviewed July 30, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$30 Kevin loves working with Olivet Lane fruit for he says the wine makes itself; no tricks, additives, modifications required. 10% whole clusters used. Aged 11 months in French and Eastern European oak, 33% new. · This has been in bottle only a short time so will only get better. Still, it is pretty flashy already, with aromas of earth, leather, and spiced black cherries. This is a Pinot that has finesse over fruit heaviness and great verve and style. It is a little showier than the 2004. So juicy and tasty you want to ‘nibble’ at it. Reviewed November 26, 2006 ARTICLE »
2004 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 2,900 cases, $24 · This Pinot has an attractive nose of herbs, cola, spice and cherries. Flavors of dried fruit, herbs and cherry-pie filling are linger on the finish which has plenty of zip and zing. As Mick Jagger would say, “It’s only Pinot Noir, but I like it!” Reviewed November 26, 2006 ARTICLE »
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