96pts Wine Enthusiast - Cellar Selection

Almost irresistible for its lavish spices and rich fruits, this deep and expansive wine is memorably flavorful and complex. Cinnamon, cedar, cloves and balsam complement vibrant red cherries, rich black cherries and mulled plums as a full body and moderate tannins give it significant heft in the texture. Best from 2027–2033. 

95pts James Suckling

Such purity of fruit with sliced strawberries, hibiscus and orange peel. Flowers, too. It’s full to medium body with integrated fine tannins and a long finish. Clear and transparent. Pure Martini clone. Drink or hold.

94pts Jeb Dunnuck

A bright ruby color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane is toasty on opening, with notes of incense, cedar, cranberries, and high-toned spices. All about elegance, it’s medium-bodied and refreshing, with refined, sweet tannins, a silky texture, and a clean lift of fresh acidity. A well-balanced and highly charming wine, it will benefit from another couple of years in bottle to shed its more primary fruit. Drink 2025-2035.

94pts Vinous

The 2021 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane is a classic wine from this part of the Russian River Valley. Crushed flowers, spice, mocha and red-toned fruit are all amplified. The 2021 offers tons of textural intensity while also retaining an element of translucence that is quite attractive.

92pts Wine Spectator

Juicy and open-knit, this friendly style leads with plum compote and cherry preserves, backed by hints of anise and hibiscus on the finish. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2029. 600 cases made.

91pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane is scented of sour cherries, cranberries, charcuterie, tobacco and woodsmoke. The light-bodied palate offers concentrated, crunchy fruit. It has a silky texture, refreshing acidity and a long, spicy finish. It's very easy to drink! 600 cases were made.

About the Vineyard

Located on western benchland of the Santa Rosa Plain, Olivet Lane produces grapes coveted by the finest winemakers in Sonoma County. This heritage property is one of the oldest existing vineyards in the appellation and has been recognized as a prime example of the classic style of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

About the Winery

In 1973, the Pellegrini family purchased 65 acres of apple, prune and olive orchards on West Olivet Lane. In 1975, at the recommendation of Dr. Amand Kasimatis at UC Davis, they planted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, developing one of the first vineyards in the region devoted exclusively to these two varieties.

The land has well-drained, gravelly, clay loam soil and a cool Region I climate. The Martini clone of Pinot, selected for this site, is recognized today as uniquely reflecting the classic features of the appellation’s terroir.

Merry was always confident about the quality of the fruit coming from this vineyard. “I rely on Olivet Lane to produce Pinot Noir with focused Bing cherry flavors and plush texture,” she said.