Review: Wines of Xander Soren, 2026 Releases
We greatly enjoyed our last go-round with California’s Xander Soren wines, and recently the operation sent a full complement of new releases, spanning all eight of its current offerings on the market — this time including whites and reds (and one rose). Reviews are presented in order of preference.
Note that the winery’s entry-level wines are denoted by a colored label and only the name “Xander,” sans “Soren.”
2021 Xander Soren Pinot Noir Ludeon Central Coast – A supple and seductive wine, this is the pinnacle of Xander Soren’s collection and it immediately shows. Deftly balanced among notes of tart cherry, soothing raspberry, bittersweet chocolate, and orange flower blossoms, this wine weaves back and forth on the palate as it evolves in glass to coax out elements of tea leaf before finishing on a brighter touch of orange peel. Layers of walnut, darker chocolate, and hints of coffee emerge, all melding beautifully into the experience. Impossible to put down, this is American pinot at its finest. A / $195
2021 Xander Soren Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Russian River Valley – The lone RRV pinot in the mix here, I was expecting a dense monster of a wine, in keeping with the region’s typical style. Shocker: This is gentle and approachable and full of exuberance, layered with surprisingly easygoing notes of ripe cherry and strawberry, touched with tea leaf and, later, bay leaf notes. While fairly straightforward, hints of vanilla and a little chocolate force their way into a tart and fruity palate that maintains an acidic brightness from start to finish. Impossible to put down, this wine made me wholly rethink everything about pinot from the Russian River Valley. A / $125
2021 Xander Soren Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Sta. Rita Hills – Quite a savory expression of pinot, with a strong tomato leaf note visible up front. This sharper edge finds a complement in notes of cranberry and some extracted cherry elements, hinting at almond as the finish builds. More savory notes of tobacco leaf, bay leaf, and a touch of coffee give the conclusion a brooding character, though a final spritz of orange oil livens things up just so. Consider decanting to accelerate the development process — and pair the wine appropriately. A- / $125
2021 Xander Chardonnay Santa Barbara County – Pouring this wine — Soren’s $75 entry-level bottling — into a glass reveals an initial rush of earth and leather, but time is your friend with this one. Slowly the wine opens up as it warms to showcase evolving layers of coconut and almond nougat, with lemon curd notes offering a powerful undercurrent of tart fruit. I was initially a little put off by the hoarier elements of the experience, but thing changed with surprising speed as the lively underbelly of lemon, lime, and green apple present in the wine shifted into prominence. In short order, the wine came out of its shell and blossomed like a butterfly to reveal an exuberant muse, gently floral but still citrus-forward and palate-cleansing, a perfect pairing for a spicy dinner. A- / $75
2021 Xander Soren Chardonnay Habari Sta. Rita Hills – This single-vineyard chardonnay from the El Jabali Vineyard pours with a surprising austerity, coming across as rather bitter at the start, keeping the drinker at arm’s length as it takes its time to develop. Air and some warmth allow the wine to develop more nuance — gooseberry, pear, and some tart green apple notes all sparring with a distinctively moderated barrel character that comes off with more of an aged melon vibe. (The wine is aged in only 10% new French oak.) The level of acidity here is quite surprising, with saline notes lingering well into the finish and tempering what wood is present. Notes of honeydew inform the fade-out. Above all: Give this wine plenty of time. It’s closed off at the start, but time spent digging into it reveals far more charm than I ever expected. A- / $150
2021 Xander Soren Pinot Noir Yuki Vineyard West Sonoma Coast – Boldly cherry-forward, the expressive fruit here settles down with time to reveal earthier notes, particularly tea leaf and more muted notes of bay leaf, finishing with a chewy, tobacco-like quality. The fade-out is earthier than I expected (or desired), but when paired with a lively meal (I tried mushroom Bolognese) the combination works remarkably well. B+ / $125
2025 Xander Rose of Pinot Noir California Cuvee – I’m not sure what I was expecting with this rose, but the burst of strawberry that hits the senses immediately wasn’t it. Incredibly fruity, bordering on candylike at times, the wine is flush with fruit but also features plenty of brighter elements — lemon peel and salinity — before shifting back to feature some dried floral notes. A touch of almond informs the finish. Certainly crowd-pleasing, but not at all what I though would be in the mix. B+ / $50
2021 Xander Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County – Xander Soren’s entry-level pinot (albeit a $75 wine) strikes with a shocking smokiness, notes of underbrush aflame, dried tea leaves, and cardamom, creating a savory experience that feels more than a little blown out and aggressive. That might not be such a problem if the wine had a powerful body to stand up against the smoky onslaught, but this pinot hits the palate as distinctly thin, pale in color, with a finish that evokes weak tea — touched of course with smoke. Was wildfire an issue with this vintage in Santa Barbara? B- / $75
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