Sweet and soft impression on the palate with black fruits, herbal tea and old fashioned cough medicine. This was a controversial wine on the night with some thought it corked or faulty (I had initially considered corked, but thought it not the case once the herbal elements started to shine and with none of the telltale signs of TCA for my palate). The least Pinot like of these wines, but a very unique wine that reminds me of a delicate amaro. As an interesting wine, I really loved this, as a Pinot Noir I could see one being disappointed. 92+
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A well-aged RRV Pinot. Drank with a pork tenderloin with a tart cherry chipotle glaze. Great pairing.
Despite the age, the color remains true with little if any brickiness. Tart cherry on the nose, with hints of greens (maybe kale? I know, strange . . . ). First glass was very nice, with the rich cherry and cola flavors and a smooth mouthfeel and no evident aggressive tannins. Enough acidity to work well with the pork and au gratin potatoes. Second glass was fading toward the end, but still a very lovely wine.
Not sure how much longer the fruit will hold its prominent position, but quite nice for a 9 year old Pinot.
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14.2% alcohol. Red cherry color with slight bricking at the rim of the glass. Fragrant nose of black cherry, baking spice, and a touch of mushroom. In the mouth, vibrant and quite lovely but lacking the total purity and delineation of the finest Selyem single-vineyard wines. There is a juicy black cherry fruit, floral, spice, and mushrooms notes, and tangy acidity. Finish is somewhat clipped. First vintage for a designate here, and a solid effort. B+/A-
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Medium to dark red color. Aromas of dark cherry, plum, and spice. Medium to full body with nice balance and lingering finish. Very nice but not much complexity.
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Maybe my rating is only comparative, but last night opened 04 Peay It had a very stewed character to it, which I have never tasted in a W/S pinot. Saved the rest till tonight. Still stewed, but maybe even more so than last night. So, opened this 04 Bucher to see if this was across the line of W/S 04's. The Bucher was exactly as I would have expected, somewhat lean, nice fruit, decent acidity, nicely balanced, not a blockbuster, but a very nice Ca pinot. So, went back to the Peay - still exactly the same. Same alcohol basically on both, but Sonoma Coast vs RRV. Can that be the difference? Bought both right from the winery. I am ditching the rest of the Peay's to my son...let's see how his palate is.
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Medium-ruby color. Cherry and plum on the nose along with sweet candy. Has a rather thick texture with nice spicy cherry fruit but the finish is somewhat dry and the wine seems a bit disjointed. I liked this better in its youth.
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Surprisingly big, rich and candied nose. Cherry syrup, canned fruit, cola and spice. Abundant and rich palate is a touch flat. Pure fruit. Sweet and flavorful for sure. But on this night its missing that balance and freshness.
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sassafras, a bit of cola, and nice red fruits with good structure, silky in the mouth and a lively fruit filled finish. Very enjoyable. I think it should be consumed now with thisl balance and fruit.
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Way too young to drink, but it was our son's wedding celebration so what the heck. Bright cherry flavors, excellent acidity. Powerful nose and great mouth feel.
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Dark, full-bodied pinot showing vibrant cherry fruit flavors prominent on the palate. Tannins are soft and well-balanced, finish is long and satisfying. Definitely California-style, but nevertheless was an excellent food wine paired with ravioli/tomato sauce.
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Had the WS Bucher last Sat. night. Was ready to go from the first pour, unlike the Ferrington (took 2-3 hours). Lot's of good stuff going on with the wine - fruit, earth, cola, very smooth and decent finish . However, by far the heaviest WS I have had. I assume this is what they mean when they say "Syrah-like" Pinot. Seems to have the weight to go a few years - hold if you can, but it will still be nice to drink if you can't!
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cherry and spice, a little tarragon, which some may like (others tasting did), but it turned me off a bit. finish was medium short. a very good wine but not one that i will pursue.
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dark ruby in color, the wine is very inviting in the glass. cherry, herbs and a hint of mint in the nose are fully delivered on the palate. a bit of a short finish, but fulfulling none the less
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Providing immense pleasure now. Still a bit cloudy, but I kind of like that. Nose of bright red fruits with an undercurrent of brown sugar. Certainly a decent amount of oak here, but not overbearing. Classic WS silkiness in the mouth--everyone kept saying, "its sooo smooth." Palate had lively red fruits, cola and a hint of pleasant mint. Great freshness and acidity. Fine, well-integrated tannins. I'm sure this will improve over the next couple of years. At least.
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4/8/2014 - bobdobilina wrote: 92 Points
Chicago Rotating Dinner Series - Williams Selyem 10 Year Retrospective (Perrenial Virant, Chicago): Very medicinal nose – like an old time pharmacy. Chinato/spiced wine character with lots of dried herbs over the dried and cooked red fruits.
Sweet and soft impression on the palate with black fruits, herbal tea and old fashioned cough medicine. This was a controversial wine on the night with some thought it corked or faulty (I had initially considered corked, but thought it not the case once the herbal elements started to shine and with none of the telltale signs of TCA for my palate). The least Pinot like of these wines, but a very unique wine that reminds me of a delicate amaro. As an interesting wine, I really loved this, as a Pinot Noir I could see one being disappointed. 92+
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12/17/2013 - jlgnml Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Weak, dense berry smell no depth
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9/9/2013 - StarM wrote: 90 Points
A well-aged RRV Pinot. Drank with a pork tenderloin with a tart cherry chipotle glaze. Great pairing.
Despite the age, the color remains true with little if any brickiness. Tart cherry on the nose, with hints of greens (maybe kale? I know, strange . . . ). First glass was very nice, with the rich cherry and cola flavors and a smooth mouthfeel and no evident aggressive tannins. Enough acidity to work well with the pork and au gratin potatoes. Second glass was fading toward the end, but still a very lovely wine.
Not sure how much longer the fruit will hold its prominent position, but quite nice for a 9 year old Pinot.
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10/29/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. Red cherry color with slight bricking at the rim of the glass. Fragrant nose of black cherry, baking spice, and a touch of mushroom. In the mouth, vibrant and quite lovely but lacking the total purity and delineation of the finest Selyem single-vineyard wines. There is a juicy black cherry fruit, floral, spice, and mushrooms notes, and tangy acidity. Finish is somewhat clipped. First vintage for a designate here, and a solid effort. B+/A-
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8/4/2011 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Medium to dark red color. Aromas of dark cherry, plum, and spice. Medium to full body with nice balance and lingering finish. Very nice but not much complexity.
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5/1/2011 - S. Lorin wrote: 91 Points
Let your WS age, this is a well rounded Pinot defined by soft fruit, nice acidity and elegance
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1/13/2011 - Edclr wrote: 90 Points
Maybe my rating is only comparative, but last night opened 04 Peay It had a very stewed character to it, which I have never tasted in a W/S pinot. Saved the rest till tonight. Still stewed, but maybe even more so than last night. So, opened this 04 Bucher to see if this was across the line of W/S 04's. The Bucher was exactly as I would have expected, somewhat lean, nice fruit, decent acidity, nicely balanced, not a blockbuster, but a very nice Ca pinot. So, went back to the Peay - still exactly the same. Same alcohol basically on both, but Sonoma Coast vs RRV. Can that be the difference? Bought both right from the winery. I am ditching the rest of the Peay's to my son...let's see how his palate is.
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11/16/2010 - dream wrote: 84 Points
Medium-ruby color. Cherry and plum on the nose along with sweet candy. Has a rather thick texture with nice spicy cherry fruit but the finish is somewhat dry and the wine seems a bit disjointed. I liked this better in its youth.
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8/4/2010 - Nanda wrote: 89 Points
Surprisingly big, rich and candied nose. Cherry syrup, canned fruit, cola and spice. Abundant and rich palate is a touch flat. Pure fruit. Sweet and flavorful for sure. But on this night its missing that balance and freshness.
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6/5/2010 - kleinahoe wrote: 91 Points
A little lean, some heat on the finish.
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4/4/2010 - robertparkerII wrote: 96 Points
Dark red fruits on the nose. Taste black cherry, cola, anise.
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2/3/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Provided by TB for a dinner at Osha in SF. Opened not decanted. Light in color and body with cherry and orange citrus. Very Good
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1/18/2010 - calnative wrote: 91 Points
sassafras, a bit of cola, and nice red fruits with good structure, silky in the mouth and a lively fruit filled finish. Very enjoyable. I think it should be consumed now with thisl balance and fruit.
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12/30/2009 - zheem wrote:
Delicious, and contrary to some previous reviews, I found this somewhat delicate and light, but very flavorful.
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8/11/2009 - staglin wrote: 93 Points
Way too young to drink, but it was our son's wedding celebration so what the heck. Bright cherry flavors, excellent acidity. Powerful nose and great mouth feel.
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3/24/2009 - kgh wrote: 93 Points
Dark, full-bodied pinot showing vibrant cherry fruit flavors prominent on the palate. Tannins are soft and well-balanced, finish is long and satisfying. Definitely California-style, but nevertheless was an excellent food wine paired with ravioli/tomato sauce.
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3/13/2009 - BobS wrote: 89 Points
Heavy weight Pinot representive of to many CA Pinots. Hot finish
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8/11/2008 - shaneajohnson wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes. Really liked this.
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6/22/2008 - kleinahoe wrote: 92 Points
Nice structure; a bit subdued.
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5/10/2008 - cabhunter wrote: 90 Points
Had the WS Bucher last Sat. night. Was ready to go from the first pour, unlike the Ferrington (took 2-3 hours). Lot's of good stuff going on with the wine - fruit, earth, cola, very smooth and decent finish . However, by far the heaviest WS I have had. I assume this is what they mean when they say "Syrah-like" Pinot. Seems to have the weight to go a few years - hold if you can, but it will still be nice to drink if you can't!
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8/31/2007 - JoshuaG wrote: 88 Points
Cherry flavors mostly sour cherry. A little too much acid for my taste. I prefer the more complex, larger William Selyem offerings
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8/20/2007 - AlexRed wrote: 88 Points
cherry and spice, a little tarragon, which some may like (others tasting did), but it turned me off a bit. finish was medium short. a very good wine but not one that i will pursue.
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7/21/2007 - huntly wrote: 89 Points
dark ruby in color, the wine is very inviting in the glass. cherry, herbs and a hint of mint in the nose are fully delivered on the palate. a bit of a short finish, but fulfulling none the less
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3/4/2007 - BlumJ wrote: 91 Points
Providing immense pleasure now. Still a bit cloudy, but I kind of like that. Nose of bright red fruits with an undercurrent of brown sugar. Certainly a decent amount of oak here, but not overbearing. Classic WS silkiness in the mouth--everyone kept saying, "its sooo smooth." Palate had lively red fruits, cola and a hint of pleasant mint. Great freshness and acidity. Fine, well-integrated tannins.
I'm sure this will improve over the next couple of years. At least.
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11/5/2006 - luko wrote:
I thot this wine and the Coastlands 2004 were neck and neck at the WS open house for pinots of the day.
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11/4/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
least favorite of the 3. Though it was a good wine. Red fruit, rose petals; typical RRV qualities.
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