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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.2 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 84 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by M DU VIN on 12/20/2021 & rated 93 points: Hard to understand the Wine Advocate review of this wine. I thought it hit all the right notes. (812 views) | | | Tasted by buckeye76 on 12/27/2019 & rated 91 points: Strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, with hints of spice and floral. Medium length finish. (1478 views) | | | Tasted by t_moderne on 5/24/2019 & rated 90 points: Opened and poured and tasted without food.
Darker ruby color with some bricking.
Nose offers some dark cherry and earthy notes.
Rich and round with soft tannins, this shows a darker fruit profile with forest floor notes. Shows some slight signs of oxidation.
This was enjoyable but I expected a greater level of elegance than present in this bottle. (1570 views) | | | Tasted by M DU VIN on 1/21/2019 & rated 92 points: Very nice, long finish. Wine is fully mature, but IMO still has five or more years of fine drinking ahead. (1681 views) | | | Tasted by spts1000 on 4/18/2016 & rated 91 points: took some time to open, about 1.5 hours. still had structure and some acidity. berry came across on nose, but did not really come out on taste for about 1 hour in the glass and then continued to open strong. (3672 views) | | | Tasted by affordableCollector on 12/10/2015 & rated 87 points: ruby red, in color. cherry, strawberry, earth, oxidized note, on the nose. red fruit continued, spice, struck match, on the palate. medium body, on the finish. (3490 views) | | | Tasted by dmitchell4 on 10/12/2015 & rated 94 points: took to Iron Restaurant. Had after the 2008 Kosta Brown Pinot. More complex, more lively better persistence and finish. (2811 views) | | | Tasted by blaine on 3/31/2015 & rated 91 points: The most useful thing I can add is that this wine is consistent with the rest of the 2005 WS wines. That's the most notable thing to me. More than anything else, when I opened and started drinking this, was "wow this is a lovely expression of 05 WS". Meaning the 05s were very notable as a vintage, in general and specifically at WS. Lovely color, no sign of age. Plenty going on in the nose. Dark and concentrated, but not extracted on the palate. Plenty of acidity. All together...2005. For me, it's a super unique vintage in all respects, I don't remember anything similar before or since. (3194 views) | | | Tasted by slywka7 on 1/31/2015 & rated 93 points: Night of Cabs and Pinots with the Shacks (Home of the Slywka's): Tasted blind. Immediately knew this was the Williams Selyem just by the color. Lighter and starting to show signs of age. Nose was quite nice with mushroom, strawberry, rose petal, herb and a touch of matchstick. But for how great the nose was, the palate could not match it. Nice flavors of dried cherry, dried raspberry and rhubarb. Ended with a shorter finish than the 3 other wines. A nice wine but I expected a little more from this to be honest. (1836 views) | | | Tasted by wabi47 on 10/14/2014 & rated 90 points: nice dark currant, cherry and mineral; good complexity; the fruit is bright but now less lush, which make the wine appear a bit more firm and slightly out of balance (more noticeable acidity and a hint of heat on the finish) (1687 views) | | | Tasted by affordableCollector on 9/19/2013 & rated 87 points: maroon in color. candy, floral, cherry, earth, on the nose. cherry, rc cola, earth, smoke, on the palate. light body. medium acid on the finish. (1065 views) | | | Tasted by davidspieker on 4/28/2013 & rated 91 points: Popped and poured (I know, this was a mistake). Medium dark ruby color. Aromas of raspberry and strawberry. On the palate rich and ripe but with a burnt rubber flavor and a little heat. Nice texture with a lengthy finish of ripe fruit and spice. (3508 views) | | | Tasted by JS199 on 12/11/2012 & rated 94 points: An extraordinary wine that just glides across the palete. My new favorite single vineyard WS. Drinking quite well at the moment. (3362 views) | | | Tasted by golfwine on 12/6/2012 & rated 92 points: Although my exposure to the various bottles of WS covers nearly two years time, I'd have to declare this as my second most impressionable (behind the '02 Flax, which was Extraordinary). Most notable about this bottling, was the wonderful acidity, which played off the initial cranberry fruit component and carried well through the long, bright finish. The tannic structure was all but resolved, which had me questioning how much time this has left but matter not, as it's drinking perfectly at this stage. Perhaps most compelling was the macerated strawberry that took over for the cranberry after about 30-40 mins. and had us Oohing and Aahing, as we took our final 2 or 3 sips! If I was forced to complain, it would be the somewhat muted aromatics; lacking the assertive damp earth and herbs that I like so much about RRV. To be fair, those were exchanged for a notable whiff of Dr. Pepper/cherry cola, which complimented the strawberry and so, a fair trade. (3141 views) | | | Tasted by Edclr on 10/11/2012 & rated 93 points: Gorgeous pinot, right in a perfect drinking period. Very balanced, fruit still vibrant, wonderful finish. (3234 views) | | | Tasted by jeff nowak on 9/18/2012 & rated 91 points: a little more than a year after a rather detailed note which is shockingly consistent with my take on it tonight, so please reference. i was jammed up by a bit more cola in this bottle. (2721 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 8/15/2012 & rated 93 points: Popped and poured. Lovely ripe high toned nose of raspberry, strawberry, and kirsch. On the palate rich and ripe but with a lovely velvety texture and not heavy at all. Long finish of ripe fruits with some spice. This is very consistent with other 2005 RRV Pinots like the Rochioli SVDs and Sonoma coasts from Littorai; lovely drinking wines reaching their peak of maturity. Not sure how well these will age from here. (2016 views) | | | Tasted by dougie on 7/21/2012 & rated 91 points: Fruity. Did not change over the 4 hours. Great flavors, but a tad to much sweetness. (1790 views) | | | Tasted by vanpe003 on 4/27/2012 & rated 91 points: This bottle was a learning experience for me. Not so much about the wine itself, which performed (on its own) as it has in the past. Superlative. Big, bold, enticing nose. Cali fruit that comes across as balanced, earthy, sweet perfume...a nose that invites you to either sniff some more, or dive into the palate, dealer's choice. On the palate, more of the same, balanced with a nice acidity. While expensive, this continues to be one of my favorite pinots. I'm not sure about the aging profile on this one, but think that it's drinking very well for current consumption. A minor shortcoming this time around, that I didn't detect in earlier bottles....a bit of heat on the finish. Perhaps bottle variation. But it leads me to think that my last bottle might be consumed soon. Bad luck recently with aging bigger Cali pinots.......... (1985 views) | | | Tasted by VoteferPedro on 4/7/2012 & rated 93 points: deliscious! a treat and a great balance between fruit and acid and earth in a way that is typical of the best William Selyems (2015 views) | | | Tasted by lebo9968@gmail.com on 2/24/2012 & rated 90 points: Pretty pinkish purple color. Strong grape, raspberry and chambord nose. Palate shows cola and cherry - very much like a cherry coke! A very slight effervecence is detectible on the back palate. Long palate. Not bad on initial taste. (2020 views) | | | Tasted by vanpe003 on 2/4/2012 & rated 94 points: Similar to my notes in Dec 2011, with a set of background notes (earth, stems, florals) I didn't notice last time around. Also, this time around, the palate comes across as more lush than my notes from Dec. suggest, tinged with a cola resin that's nicely balanced with some acidity. Long finish. Overall this is on the heavier side of the spectrum but maintains an unusual sense of elegance and grace. I had intended to keep a bottle for a 2013-14 experiment, but apparently this is my last one :(. Update: woohoo! Found at least one more of these laying around. Will check back in Xmas of 2013! (2690 views) | | | Tasted by vanpe003 on 12/13/2011 & rated 94 points: Pop/pour. I prefer this to the '05 WS Flax also opened. This one sweet on the nose, without the corresponding sour found on the Flax. Sweet fruits and a whiff of baking bread. On the palate, not quite as lush at present as compared to the Flax, but seemingly more complex with a longer finish. Interesting bit of pine resin stays on the palate forever. A bit of tannins on the finish. Absolutely no rush on these. I'll be opening another one over the holidays, but will try to save a couple remaining bottles for Xmas 2013. (2547 views) | | | Tasted by rosenst1 on 12/8/2011 & rated 95 points: took to a birthday dinner at Boulevard in SF. Decanted 30 minutes prior to drinking. Lovely red ruby color; fantastic floral nose or red fruits and spice. On the palate, this is seamless with a repeating of the floral notes and then a smoky spicy finishing note. This lasted well into the evening but began to become a little disjointed after a few hours. Superb wine that I feel is drinking at peak. (2562 views) | | | Tasted by tederf on 10/23/2011 & rated 95 points: Berserkerfest at Barbetta. A wonderful Pinot. Very mellow. Good acid - very long finish. The fruit was subtle but delicious strawberry flavors. Sorry I only had one of these. It got better as it opened up. Should have had a good decant. (2627 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Williams Selyem Producer websitePinot Noir Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.
Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.
Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.
The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.
Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.
In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.
With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.
Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountyRussian River Valley Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia |
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