1997 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard |
| Vintage | 1997 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Williams Selyem (web) | ||
| Variety | Pinot Noir | ||
| Designation | n/a | ||
| Vineyard | Olivet Lane Vineyard | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | California | ||
| SubRegion | Sonoma County | ||
| Appellation | Russian River Valley |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2001 and 2009 (based on 9 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Olivet Lane on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 92 pts. in 40 notes) | |
| Tasted by misterstarre on 12/6/2022 & rated 91 points: Beautiful clear red and purple toned color, and a hesitant nose that has red fruit, potpourri, and perfume. This has a light to medium body and a silky, elegant texture. You get tastes of strawberry and tart red plum, popsicle stick, and a subtle herbal note that evoked parsley. This was a pleasant but not profound wine. Straightforward. It has some perfume on the finish, as well. (551 views) | |
| Tasted by misterstarre on 5/21/2019 & rated 91 points: Dark cherry, rose petal, and plum on the nose of this transluscent, dark orange-red wine. The palate is dark red fruit, all the way. Plum, dark cherry, and cola feature in this Williams Selyem bottling, which came off richer in the fruit department and less complex than other '97 WS bottlings I've had. By comparison to the Hirsch, this lacked spice, and it lacks the subtle stemminess of the Rochioli. Lovely, straightforward, and medium bodied, this was supple, soft, juicy. (1412 views) | |
| Tasted by H2OMansLibrary on 12/23/2018: Still surprisingly dark, but I guess not that surprising for the RRV. Loads of cherry on the nose and mouth. Fortunately, no cola on this one. Can actually go longer. Nothing Burgundian about this wine, but enjoyable nonetheless. (1468 views) | |
| Tasted by rossi.wine on 8/7/2018 & rated 92 points: Very dark in colour still and also quite backward on the nose: dark fruit, licquorice, spices, smoke, notes of prunes after some time in the glass. Very intense and generous on the palate. The high alcohol is showing a little, very dense and ripe. Good acidity, soft tannins, very good length. 91-93 (2092 views) | |
| Tasted by Blake Brown on 3/4/2018: 1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM OLIVET LANE VINEYARD RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR- I loved that another WS Pinot of Burt`s making was brought and this one showed well also; Olivet Lane has a brambly sort of wild character to it and this replicated such; the nose was pure red fruit and the taste was of a spicy strawberry and cranberry with the fruit being upfront and prominent; it was elegant, light in weight and a pleasant treat. (1513 views) | |
| Tasted by Blake Brown on 1/17/2018: 1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM OLIVET LANE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR- opened and poured into Riedel Burgundy stems; the colour was an unadulterated dark red; I got atypical spicy red raspberry and red cherry in the nose which continued on in the taste with cinnamon, strawberry, and red plum coming in; Olivet usually has a brambly, wild blackberry character that was missing in this bottle; it had good mouthfeel and a sustained finish; delightful and still so young and viable. (1261 views) | |
| Tasted by renapen on 9/14/2016 & rated 94 points: The wine looks brick colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like black pepper, game, blackberry and black currant (cassis). (1894 views) | |
| Tasted by napasoutherner on 12/15/2014 & rated 95 points: Boy this wine was a surprise of the year. Had at a pre-2007 Pinot event dinner. I would swear this wine would have been corked; however, it really turned on the charm. On opening the wine was musty and somewhat flat; however, after 1.5 hours the bouquet really opened up. Strong earth/floral tones to the nose.. very romantic sensations of fruit. Even after almost 20 years this wine showed depth to the tongue and had a wonderful finish. (2295 views) | |
| Tasted by TONY FONTAINE on 8/17/2013 & rated 89 points: 1997 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Olivet Lane Decanted for ½ an hour prior to tasting, served from magnum. My score: 91 This is typically one of the darkest versions of pinot, I didn’t expect any bright flavors of Burgundy, but I did expect this wine to hold up for 16 years and it didn’t disappoint. The color was still a dark plum, as with the Dunn there was no bricking. The tannins are pretty much at the end of days and this wine, although displaying elegance with black plum and ripe strawberry, rose, kirsch and maybe a bit of caramel. Mostly reserved but rich. Definitely a drink now wine; it’s peak was probably 5 years ago when I last had it; it was youthful, bright and delicious – I thought it would last a decade. I’m really glad all of you had a chance to taste this wine now (because it won’t last another 5 years). This win is like meeting an sophisticated older woman who has all the charm and elegance gained by years of refinement, you can only imagine what she was like in her youth! (3119 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine_Bear on 7/15/2013 flawed bottle: corked (3156 views) | |
| Tasted by GrapesRGreat on 6/11/2013 & rated 93 points: This wine definitely bucks the norm for Burt Williams wines at 14.9% alc. It is almost Amarone-like in its dark, concentrated fruit characteristics. Started to sing 3 hours after opening, still med plus tannins (esp. for a Pinot). Definitely a fun wine to drink, but not typical of what I was expecting. Olivet Lane does tend to be dark and brooding and this was no different. (2875 views) | |
| Tasted by winecat9 on 1/28/2011 & rated 89 points: Beautiful color with no bricking. Vibrant bouquet dominated by black cherry. Alcohol mostly in check even though it is at 14.9%. Good balance, body and texture. Nice dark cherry flavors but fade very quickly as this wine has practically no finish -- its only shortcoming. Surprisingly good at 13 years, just needed a better finish. (3761 views) | |
| Tasted by tanglenet on 7/19/2010: Opened not decanted. Similar note to last bottle with clarity at the edge. Floral and strong spice notes on the nose and palate. After about 15 minutes the alcohol started to become noticeable and I thought it was shot as the finish was so dry, but after about 30 minutes, it settled down and smoothed out to be a great drinker. Lots of citrus and soft summer fruit notes. Holding up well. Good to Very Good. Served with pork sugo pappardelle at Wood Tavern, Oakland. (3597 views) | |
| Tasted by kstoddard on 6/9/2010 flawed bottle: Jeff Nowak's Tasting Of Wines That Really Blow Part II: This Time It's Personal: Deep garnet color. Earthy cherry nose. Heavily oxidized. Undrinkable. (3731 views) | |
| Tasted by jeff nowak on 6/9/2010: unlike my other 97s which i purchased @ jensen's in palm desert, this bottle was clearly in poor condition, and undrinkable. (2622 views) | |
| Tasted by gutt22 on 2/19/2010: Shocking that this is 14.9% alcohol. For the most part, it doesn't seem like it. Still a youthful wine, with a vigorous red cherry color. On the nose, black and red cherry fruit, along with baking spice and minerals. In the mouth, you can sense the ripeness in the palate presence. It is lush and round, with an almost jammy quality to the fruit. The complexity is still quite primary, and the acidity gives a nice punch of refreshment and keeps the wine from being flabby. On the finish, however, the flavors fade a bit too quickly and a flabby note comes in a bit from the alcohol. B+ (2663 views) | |
| Tasted by Rob MacKay on 9/6/2009 & rated 94 points: Popped and poured from magnum. This was absolutely delicious, still holding lots of bright fruit with some earth tones. Alcohol (14.9%) is very nicely managed and the wine itself is quite well balanced. Tannins are well resolved. It was hard to really find any flaws in this wine. Truly a treat of a Pinot Noir and makes me wish I could hold my similar bottles long enough to enjoy them at this age. (2604 views) | |
| Tasted by jhannah27 on 9/6/2009 & rated 94 points: Popped and poured from Magnum. This is the first wine that I have had from Williams Selyem, and, by chance, the first pinot I have had from magnum. At the pop, the 14.9% ABV was a bit forward, and it had a bit of a grape or dark cherry cough syrup flavor to it, but still was quite tasty. As the air really got into it, the alcohol became non-existent and what was left is likely one of the best pinots that I have ever had. Surprisingly vibrant dark berry flavors throughout with a sweet spiciness out of the long finish. It has a smooth mouthfeel, but there is also a fair bit of acid still hanging around. I would be really curious to see if this would have held up as well in a 750, but it was perfect in this bottle, on this day. I really couldn't have asked for more, and since I purchased this at a fundraiser, the fact that it showed so well was just a bonus. (2629 views) | |
| Tasted by jerhardt on 5/2/2009 & rated 90 points: Still pretty good, although not my favorite bottle of this that I have had. Cloudy, medium bodied, and with pretty ripe fruit. Not going downhill, but no reason to wait. (2537 views) | |
| Tasted by jeff nowak on 12/6/2008 & rated 93 points: from magnum. red, rich, nicely integrated tannin, yet still youthful. delicious. (2719 views) | |
| Tasted by jasonh on 9/1/2008 & rated 91 points: Sadly my Williams Selyem stash is dwindling and it was time to say goodbye to my last 97. I opened a little early so I could get a peak at and decide if it could use some air. The color was showing age but still vibrant. My first sniff had me worried as it seemed sherried. With some swirling it sorted out and became compelling. Showing some sherried elements along with a little beef broth but primarily still showing red fruits. On the palate, the wine did very well with the food. Nicely sweet fruit and medium acid. At first the finish was off but later it straightened out although never set itself apart. It is rare that a Burt Williams wine seems long in the tooth to me but I think this wine’s best days may be behind it. Still a nice wine. (2580 views) | |
| Tasted by TampaDan on 3/7/2008 & rated 86 points: Slightly better than the last one, but not that much. Basically all that's left are some muted cherry and cola flavors, with almost no aromatics to speak of. It has declined into a simple, pleasant drink, but this wine used to be so much more than that. It's like saying goodbye to a treasured old friend, a bittersweet parting made no easier by the fact that you knew it had to happen someday. This wine was probably my very first introduction to what great wine was all about, how exciting and interesting it could be. I'm just happy that one of the three bottles I've had recently was close to what it once was. Once again, I'd love another crack at this in magnums, but c'est la vie. Thanks for the memories, and for showing me the way. (2787 views) | |
| Tasted by rmodak on 2/24/2008 & rated 94 points: The nose explodes with violets and crushed mineral. On the palate, there is deep, dark raspberry along with a hint of sweet tobacco, with no hint of heaviness. Juicy acidity gives the wine a bright quality and the finish lasts 20 seconds. This wine showcases more mineral than herbal notes and seems at peak. This is easily one of the best California Pinots I have had, with its powerful fruit harnessed into a restrained, elegant package. (2880 views) | |
| Tasted by TampaDan on 2/23/2008 & rated 84 points: Not too much going on in this bottle at all, a great example of bottle variation I suppose. Just some simple muted cherry flavors along with some pretty harsh acidity. This is the first bottle of this wine that I've ever had which seemed tired and over-the-hill. It's enough to make one get deeply philosophical, as in "nothing last forever but the earth and sky" or something equally banal. Several hours after opening, this bottle staged a noble little rally, gaining just a measure of extra depth and interest right at the end. Even so, I think that the final verdict with this wine has to be "drink 'em if ya got 'em", for its best days are in the past. Now comes the time when you wish that you would have been smart enough to buy magnums, although this wine was hard enough to get even in 750s. (2829 views) | |
| Tasted by TampaDan on 1/26/2008 & rated 92 points: Great to encounter this all-time favorite again, my wine for the New Millennium first consumed on 12/31/99, for the first time in almost eight years. I was a little apprehensive after reading of a Prince of Pinot tasting where the older WS wines supposedly weren't holding up all that well. I recalled a racy, delicious wine with unbelievable fruit and spice. Fortunately, the wine was, once again, dazzling and delightful! Gorgeouos aromatics right as the cork was pulled - notes of cranberry and, yes, olives. The color was the beautiful incadescent ruby-cherry that so characterized the WS wines of old, but would probably be regarded as being "too light to be commercially viable" nowadays. As before, the wine featured a seductive aromatic profile of succulent cherries along with complex notes of many different spices. The first sip was a silky-smooth stream of cherry liqueur followed by, once again, pronounced notes of olive. Intriguing smoky creamy vanilla notes gave way to a palate-coating finish that literally resonated the taste in one's mouth for minutes on end between sips. Though I think the wine is slightly past its lofty peak (my previous score was 94), it remains a remarkable bottle of wine, and well-stored examples should be delightful for 2-3 more years. More proof that great wine doesn't have to be overripe, over-extracted and over-oaked. (2938 views) | |
| Tasted by jerhardt on 11/27/2007 & rated 93 points: At Quattro. Superb, and a better showing than the last bottle. Bright red fruit and soaring aromatics led to a lush and round, yet still light footed mouthfeel. Faded a bit after an hour or so in the glass, but otherwise not showing its age. Nonetheless, drinking so well now, there is not much reason to wait. (3060 views) | |
| Tasted by jerhardt on 9/30/2007 & rated 92 points: At Quattro. The slightly protruding cork had me a bit worried about this one, but if it suffered some heat, it was still showing nicely. I am definitely anxious to try a "pristine" bottle. Side by side with the '97 WS Riverblock. Initially this showed more focused minerality, and some noted hints of green that blew off. Where the Riverblock held steady or declined through the evening, this continued to improve and gain complexity. A great, and young, showing for a 10 year old CA pinot and a testament to the ageability of W-S. (3063 views) | |
| Tasted by blaine on 8/30/2007: Good, not great. Appearance still youthful. Somewhat muted nose. Nice and smooth on the palate, typical WS profile. Closed down and tightened up a bit on the palate near the end of the bottle. Alcohol was not a problem. (3145 views) | |
| Tasted by tanglenet on 6/17/2007: Opened not decanted. Some clarity at the edge; served chilled to reduce some of the heat; strong nose of spice with touches of ecualyptus and charcoal on the nose; cedar, menthol with lots of moist and dried fruit on the palate with a zangy,dry finish. At it's peak right now. Good. (3080 views) | |
| Tasted by jamiekutch on 6/27/2006: Cherry pie. Sweet palate with hints of oak and good tannins. This is sure to age another 5 years. (3846 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 5/30/2006 & rated 91 points: Pre-1998 US Pinot Tasting (My home - Chicago IL): Tasted blind. Ripe and lush red and black cherry aromas, somewhat more subdued and balanced on palate. Good length, spice-driven finish. At its peak. (1925 views) | |
| Tasted by tradewines on 5/27/2006: A bit disappointing. Not enough fruit to stand up to the alcohol. Drink up. (3752 views) | |
| Tasted by winefool on 5/1/2006 & rated 92 points: Pre-98 Cali Pinot Group #3, My #2 - Deep purple red. Big purple fruit aroma with briar and spice notes. Big ripe jammy black fruit. 5/06 (3153 views) | |
| Tasted by winefool on 11/3/2005 & rated 93 points: Wineflock - Russian River Valley Pinot 92-98 (Dennis'): Full red color. forward aroma of spicy black cherry. Slightly tight full spicy black cherry fruit. Nice. (3425 views) | |
| Tasted by winefool on 6/1/2005 & rated 93 points: Pale red/pink color. Nice forward aromas of fruit and spice. Nice balanced with rich fruit on the palate. Drinking perfectly. 6/05 (3135 views) | |
| Tasted by mdefreitas on 5/23/1999 & rated 93 points: Big Pinot Tasting: Soft, round, and packed with nice cherry fruit. Framed with lovely RRV spice. Good extraction, but not overdone. Lovely. (3859 views) | |
| Tasted by mdefreitas on 5/19/1999 & rated 93 points: NYC Group does Pinots (NYC): Wow! Ripe and spicy. Rich, thick wine. wonderful mouthfeel that totally coats the palate. this is really fine wine. What a long finish. Super wine. (3657 views) |
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| CellarTracker Wiki Articles |
Williams SelyemProducer websitePinot NoirVarietal 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. Olivet Lane VineyardPellegrini’s Olivet Lane Vineyard was planted in 1975 to Wente selection on AXR rootstock. The vineyard sits on 65 acres of sloping benchland in the Santa Rosa Plain, in between the warmer Westside Road region and the cooler Green Valley, where warm summer days are moderated by cool breezes and chilly evening temperatures. The combination of low temperatures, regular fog intrusion and well drained loam, clay soils create an excellent environment for growing Chardonnay that develop cool-climate characteristics and impeccable acid at fairly low sugars. The wines from this vineyard simultaneously express power and finesse, and they do so with tremendous balance.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-PetersonSonoma CountyMendocino CountyRussian River ValleyRussian River Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia |