From the river block of the Rochioli Vineyard. Last vintage made by Burt Williams. Presumably made at the neighboring Allen Vineyard (also owned by the Rochioli's). A warm sunny vintage. 14.0%ABV. Bottle is in great condition and fill is good.
Clear mid garnet color with a small amount of very fine sediment.
Very present nose, with a wide array of scents, probably best described as potpourri: rose petals, cinnamon, sandalwood, lavendar and rosemary.
Very red fruited on the palate, mostly red cherry, but also raspberry and rhubarb. Fruit has moderate richness and definitely gives off California sunshine.
Palate has medium length and tannins are present but fine grained. Perhaps a touch of heat on the end palate, although balanced with some acid cut.
This really shows no sign of fading, and probably better than my last bottle.
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So good if not simple. This leads with mellowed dark, candied cherry and has a ton of potpurri and rose both in the nose and palate. Even better the second day when some slight volatility resolved.
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Taste: The feel is medium bodied with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium tannins. The structure is principally resolved now but it's still there for a framework. The feel is well balanced and silky with dark red cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, candy, and violets.
Overall: This lovely and mature with a lot of freshness to this day. There is good balance, but it lacks some depth and extra levels of complexity past having fresh fruits.
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1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM ROCHIOLI RIVERBLOCK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR- 2 bottles; our first bottle had some VA which fortunately did not dominate and spoil the wine; we drank the bottle and then opened another one to get the true essence of what this is all about; fresh red and black cherry along with some plum and blackberry flavours abound with a touch of spice; it was in perfect balance; one great bottle and one not so great, a rare occasion for me and this wine.
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1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM ROCHIOLI RIVERBLOCK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR- I`ve had so many wonderful bottles of this wine and expected it to be a strong challenge to the 97` Rochioli I paired it with; it was not; although it improved a bit with time, this bottle had suppressed fruit notes and little of the spicy component that has embellished it in other tastings; the absence of the usual rich and vibrant fruit profile suggests to me it may have been corked, a VERY RARE experience with these wines.
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Drinks fabulously at this age. Stunning dark berry fruit with lots of earthiness, but not dry earth, loamy earth to support the big black cherry and black berry fruit still quite assertive through a medium long finish. The wine is actually full bodied, quite dark but not 'heavy'. I'm sure its been an excellent wine for years now, but this is a nice age to drink it. It might even be better in another year.
Very nice. Still doing great. This got much better over the course of 2 hrs. Recommend open and decant 2 hrs. Nose of black fruits, spice, funk, and dirt, some menthol that blows off after a bit. Pretty big alcohol hit on the nose. Taste was balanced between strong masculine fruit and a delicate elegance. Mixed sweet black and red fruits, earth, mushroom, light herbal note, great mouthfeel, and a long finish, with only a slight alcohol burn.
Really nice and will certainly last past its 20th, possibly even to 2020.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Ripe black fruit aromas and flavors, modest spice. Still showing plenty of good fruit hat hasn't faded but hasn't really picked up the nuance I sometimes find in the best bottles of Williams Selyem at this approximate age.
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14.0% alcohol. A strong showing for this wine. Beautiful red cherry color, with a dusting of bricking at the rim of the glass. Compelling nose of black cherry, red cherry, earth, mushrooms, and flowers. It is an intoxicatingly complex bouquet. In the mouth, refined, balanced, and impeccably elegant, yet packing a strong vibrancy and youthfulness. Velvety mouth feel, which gives the wine a freshness and zing. Retaining good acidity and minerality to brighten up the serious earthy notes, then finishing with a gorgeous, detailed back end. A
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Really quite delicious, this seemed youthful and almost closed up still. Black cherry color. Black cherry, spice, and earth on the nose. In the mouth, seems a bit tight. There's generous fruit and spice to it, with a lovely floral and earthy edge, but the wine has a kind of unruly, youthful streak to it, as if it's still a bit untamed. It's balanced and concentrated, but it's like this bottle still needs to harness its power. A-
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14.0% alcohol. Opened an hour before serving. Remarkably dark red color. No signs of age to it. Beautiful bouquet that is richer than the 1997 Allen we had earlier in the week. Big red and black cherry fruit leads the way on the nose, with enormous complexity behind it. Notes of baking spice, earth, a hint of mushroom, flowers, and minerals. In the mouth, opulent and strikingly youthful, with fresh cherry fruit, wrapped in an elegant robe of spice, earth, and minerals. The acidity is lively, and it gives hints of mushroom and flowers, leading to a long, smooth finish that lets you know this wine has plenty of life left in it. This has much positive development ahead. A
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CA PINOT IN ATL: Slightest hint of funkiness on the nose. Delicious red fruit framed by nice acidity. Tastes like its five years old. Could drink this all the time and be happy.
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Bought from Winebid and let sit in a Eurocave for 3 weeks. Opened and started pouring within a half hour. The nose was full of complex aromas. On the palate, caramel, vanilla, a touch of spice, and dark chocolate covered cherries. The finish was rich and full of flavor. Age is one of the most important factors that determines a good bottle of wine.
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At Quattro. The fully saturated cork and signs of seepage had me a bit worried about this one, but like the Olivet Lane 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 Olivet Lane. Upon opening, this was the clear winner. Round and relatively soft with deep Russian River cherry flavors. Where this fell behind was in its relative lack of complexity. This is definitely more mature and ready to drink; I will drink over the next 3 years.
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I was seriously disappointed with this. We had some nice Burgundies open next to it and the Selyem was stinky and dirty next to the Burgs if you'd believe that! Overall, an "over the hill" quality, over ripe, stewed aromas.. a dirty funkiness. Too bad, other Selyems have been nice lately.
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1/4/2024 - bobdobilina Likes this wine: 94 Points
From the river block of the Rochioli Vineyard. Last vintage made by Burt Williams. Presumably made at the neighboring Allen Vineyard (also owned by the Rochioli's). A warm sunny vintage. 14.0%ABV. Bottle is in great condition and fill is good.
Clear mid garnet color with a small amount of very fine sediment.
Very present nose, with a wide array of scents, probably best described as potpourri: rose petals, cinnamon, sandalwood, lavendar and rosemary.
Very red fruited on the palate, mostly red cherry, but also raspberry and rhubarb. Fruit has moderate richness and definitely gives off California sunshine.
Palate has medium length and tannins are present but fine grained. Perhaps a touch of heat on the end palate, although balanced with some acid cut.
This really shows no sign of fading, and probably better than my last bottle.
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2/12/2023 - misterstarre Likes this wine: 94 Points
So good if not simple. This leads with mellowed dark, candied cherry and has a ton of potpurri and rose both in the nose and palate. Even better the second day when some slight volatility resolved.
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3/5/2020 - bobdobilina wrote: 92 Points
Bright mahogany color.
Savory nose. Sous bois, autumn, cherries. Heady, but just a touch muddled.
On the palate, fresh mint, spice, bing cherries, cola, earth. Nice vinous quality.
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1/23/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Honoring Burt Williams with some old Williams-Selyem (S.K.Y. restaurant, Pilsen, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is fresh and lively with dark red cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, candy notes, spice tones, and violets. This is well balanced and red fruited with the fruit still holding nicely.
Taste: The feel is medium bodied with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium tannins. The structure is principally resolved now but it's still there for a framework. The feel is well balanced and silky with dark red cherries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, candy, and violets.
Overall: This lovely and mature with a lot of freshness to this day. There is good balance, but it lacks some depth and extra levels of complexity past having fresh fruits.
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6/30/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 95 Points
1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM ROCHIOLI RIVERBLOCK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR- 2 bottles; our first bottle had some VA which fortunately did not dominate and spoil the wine; we drank the bottle and then opened another one to get the true essence of what this is all about; fresh red and black cherry along with some plum and blackberry flavours abound with a touch of spice; it was in perfect balance; one great bottle and one not so great, a rare occasion for me and this wine.
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5/31/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 86 Points
1997 WILLIAMS SELYEM ROCHIOLI RIVERBLOCK VINEYARD PINOT NOIR- I`ve had so many wonderful bottles of this wine and expected it to be a strong challenge to the 97` Rochioli I paired it with; it was not; although it improved a bit with time, this bottle had suppressed fruit notes and little of the spicy component that has embellished it in other tastings; the absence of the usual rich and vibrant fruit profile suggests to me it may have been corked, a VERY RARE experience with these wines.
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11/28/2016 - dino_mike Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinks fabulously at this age. Stunning dark berry fruit with lots of earthiness, but not dry earth, loamy earth to support the big black cherry and black berry fruit still quite assertive through a medium long finish. The wine is actually full bodied, quite dark but not 'heavy'. I'm sure its been an excellent wine for years now, but this is a nice age to drink it. It might even be better in another year.
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6/13/2016 - Hebrew Hammer wrote: 93 Points
- Ruby color.
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2/22/2014 - Hebrew Hammer wrote: 95 Points
Epic! Fruit forward. Tastes like a box of cherries
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10/19/2013 - Hebrew Hammer wrote: 94 Points
- Brick color.
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3/16/2013 - ericindc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Still doing great. This got much better over the course of 2 hrs. Recommend open and decant 2 hrs. Nose of black fruits, spice, funk, and dirt, some menthol that blows off after a bit. Pretty big alcohol hit on the nose. Taste was balanced between strong masculine fruit and a delicate elegance. Mixed sweet black and red fruits, earth, mushroom, light herbal note, great mouthfeel, and a long finish, with only a slight alcohol burn.
Really nice and will certainly last past its 20th, possibly even to 2020.
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3/2/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Ripe black fruit aromas and flavors, modest spice. Still showing plenty of good fruit hat hasn't faded but hasn't really picked up the nuance I sometimes find in the best bottles of Williams Selyem at this approximate age.
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11/19/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.0% alcohol. A strong showing for this wine. Beautiful red cherry color, with a dusting of bricking at the rim of the glass. Compelling nose of black cherry, red cherry, earth, mushrooms, and flowers. It is an intoxicatingly complex bouquet. In the mouth, refined, balanced, and impeccably elegant, yet packing a strong vibrancy and youthfulness. Velvety mouth feel, which gives the wine a freshness and zing. Retaining good acidity and minerality to brighten up the serious earthy notes, then finishing with a gorgeous, detailed back end. A
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2/19/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
Really quite delicious, this seemed youthful and almost closed up still. Black cherry color. Black cherry, spice, and earth on the nose. In the mouth, seems a bit tight. There's generous fruit and spice to it, with a lovely floral and earthy edge, but the wine has a kind of unruly, youthful streak to it, as if it's still a bit untamed. It's balanced and concentrated, but it's like this bottle still needs to harness its power. A-
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2/11/2010 - M DU VIN wrote: 92 Points
A wonderful bottle of pinot that is still going strong. Burgundian in its bouquet, it has a very nice nose and nice length.
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2/6/2010 - petermpls wrote: 93 Points
Still in its prime! Beautiful floral nose.
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9/9/2009 - jerhardt wrote: 91 Points
A solid bottle; relatively elegant and burgundian next to the '98 Rochiolis in the same flight. At its peak, but not fading yet.
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12/20/2008 - gutt22 wrote:
14.0% alcohol. Opened an hour before serving. Remarkably dark red color. No signs of age to it. Beautiful bouquet that is richer than the 1997 Allen we had earlier in the week. Big red and black cherry fruit leads the way on the nose, with enormous complexity behind it. Notes of baking spice, earth, a hint of mushroom, flowers, and minerals. In the mouth, opulent and strikingly youthful, with fresh cherry fruit, wrapped in an elegant robe of spice, earth, and minerals. The acidity is lively, and it gives hints of mushroom and flowers, leading to a long, smooth finish that lets you know this wine has plenty of life left in it. This has much positive development ahead. A
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5/19/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote:
CA PINOT IN ATL: Slightest hint of funkiness on the nose. Delicious red fruit framed by nice acidity. Tastes like its five years old. Could drink this all the time and be happy.
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1/12/2008 - jerhardt wrote: 92 Points
Light bodied, crystal clear ruby in color. Pure and fine cherry fruit, and drinking young, but well right now.
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10/21/2007 - DRL01 wrote: 93 Points
Bought from Winebid and let sit in a Eurocave for 3 weeks. Opened and started pouring within a half hour. The nose was full of complex aromas. On the palate, caramel, vanilla, a touch of spice, and dark chocolate covered cherries. The finish was rich and full of flavor. Age is one of the most important factors that determines a good bottle of wine.
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9/30/2007 - jerhardt wrote: 92 Points
At Quattro. The fully saturated cork and signs of seepage had me a bit worried about this one, but like the Olivet Lane 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 Olivet Lane. Upon opening, this was the clear winner. Round and relatively soft with deep Russian River cherry flavors. Where this fell behind was in its relative lack of complexity. This is definitely more mature and ready to drink; I will drink over the next 3 years.
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9/4/2007 - monzell wrote: 86 Points
1st night tasted like pure cherry, not much else. Med. body. 2nd night, though well stored, lost a lot. Not much there.
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3/18/2006 - danstrings wrote: 84 Points
I was seriously disappointed with this. We had some nice Burgundies open next to it and the Selyem was stinky and dirty next to the Burgs if you'd believe that! Overall, an "over the hill" quality, over ripe, stewed aromas.. a dirty funkiness. Too bad, other Selyems have been nice lately.
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10/1/2003 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Still young and primary. Deep, dark fruits, mostly black fruits and licorice. Meaty and long.
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