With Terriyaki Salmon…. Showing its age but not a bad pairing . Very dark and nice full mouthfeel. Some slight forest floor but nose is fairly shut. Drink up The last few sips showed a very strong 92 points so it may just be one to spend some time with?
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Agree with others that it is past its prime drinking window. Enjoyable but nothing special. Because the acidity is virtually gone, I would recommend as a drinking wine vs. pairing with food. Drink up!
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Finished the last bottle yesterday. Similar to my notes a year ago and not improving at this point. I'm amazed there are over 1,200 bottles of this in cellars according to Cellar Tracker, so I'd advise drinking up... a lot. :)
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Beautiful example of non vineyard specific pinot, made even more alluring because it was out of magnum. Still lots of life remaining at least in this format. Well balanced, good acidity, fruit still very vibrant.
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I was surprised that I liked the '09 Russian River slightly more than this. If I were drinking them blind, I would have switched them. This had a distinctive root beer nose (spices, cola, black cherry) and the profile had a strong cola finish after a crisp rising beginning. Excellent.
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Nice deep reddish color. Wonderful fruit on the nose. Worth a second sniff. Well balanced, with only a very slight touch of acidity. Very good tannins. Not much left to age at this point. I think this is drinking about as well as it's going to get. I think it might get a bit thin and flat if it has too much time left in the cellar. I'll drink my last bottle soon.
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Blackberry and dark fruits on the nose. Red/purple in color and clear. Dark fruit and earthy with a long finish. Medium acidity, silky tannins and long finish. Decanted for 30 months minutes, but really needs a few hours.
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Winemaker stated that your mouth will 'burst' with flavors. Whispering is the verb I would use. Flavor was soft and smooth and I think I could appreciate strawberry/rhubarb.
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An excellent food wine so don't expect your typical Sonoma Coast candied Pinot. Seemingly incisive acidity that doesn't have enough fruit to balance it out, and the alcohol feels higher than the stated 13.9%. Really hard to rate this... quite excellent with food, and very good without if given enough air (and then perhaps not too much...). Went well with smoked duck breast and not so well with a slightly acidic butter lettuce salad. 88+ points
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Definitely on the more delicate side. Bright red color and bright across the tongue. Red cherry and plum fruit. A little bit of gravel and a little bit more subdued oak. Moderately long finish.
4/10/2015 Didn't use the word "bright" at all, but otherwise similar notes.
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Beautiful wine. Red fruit driven with fine tannins. Paired well with a multi-course new years eve menu: smoked duck salad with melted leek tart, lobster bisque, rack of lamb with parsnip puree and a chevre cheesecake with roasted strawberries.
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Nose of pronounced ethanol & strawberry, weak blackberry, very faint ginger. Initial taste of strawberry & raspberry; but conspicuously no earth, spice, or wood. Even the vanilla/oak has gone away. Very wet with no tannins to speak of. Acidity is pleasantly low (especially for this winemaker). After 30 sec, a subtle resurgence of baking spice comes forth. If you have any of these left, drink them NOW with your leftover holiday food. I can envision this going well with a turkey/cranberry sandwich and reheated sweet potatoes, or just to wash down those remaining Xmas cookies and fruitcake.
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a crude jammy dumb wine withno characteristics of a pinot. could just as easily be an above average zinfindel. try again in 2 yrs. might be a good hamburger wine.
Just a beautiful wine. Pretty much at a peak state when decanted for two hours. Quite Burgundian, more elegant than a powerhouse. Perfect with Coco Vin. So happy I have another bottle.
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The nose has a distinct undertone of laurel leaf or young oak bark, which persists throughout the drinking process like the drone notes from a bagpipe. There is an initial wet "grapiness" that gives way to faint blueberry and a dried-up remnant of red berry. Then, like the piper who has stopped playing the chanter, all that remains until the end is that constant drone of dry woodiness. Drink yesterday.
EDIT 2014-12-29: This may have been an outlier of a bottle. Look for my latest review.
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Opened this after finishing a 2007 Kistler, Kistler Vineyard. The Kistler has oodles of dark, sweet fruit--with resolved tannins balanced with moderate acidity--it's a guzzler. The WS is a contrast in style. Dark, but bright at the edges. Considerable legs. Cherry cola and strawberry shortcake on the nose. In the mouth and on the palate much more acidity than the Kistler and much less fruit, though there is a delicate balance. Very interesting. Incredible finish.
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Updated my tasting notes and bumped up 3 points based on a much better experience the second day. Initially very tight and harsh, sour raspberry & dark cherry but not pleasant fruit. Only slightly improving with some air, came across as thin so gave up after one glass. Day 2 the wine became richer, more defined and full bodied, the fruits were more prominent, sweet & juicy. Smooth tannins, just enough herbal & spice qualities to make it interesting. Major transformation. Hope I have better luck with my remaining Williams Selyem, have Central Coast & Russian River Valley.
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Thanksgiving 2013 + a couple other parties: I wouldn’t have picked this out as W-S if tasted blind – shows a ripe, K-B style and does it reasonably well, although perhaps too much candy and not enough fruit – flavors and aromas of kirsch, framboise, almond extract and vanilla.
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APPEARANCE = Deep black red, bright, purple tint, near opaque, no sediment; 4/4 BOUQUET = Tea, berry, mushroom, fairly tight scents, earth, herb, dark berries; 11/14 TASTE = medium body, crisp, a little sharp, tight, flat, mild fruit, stemmy; 12/18 PREFERENCE = tight, uninspired, a little harsh, stayed this way over several days, never released anything; 0/4
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Much better than the last bottle (which I reviewed here). Cherry, baking spices, and a little vanilla-oak remind me of the cherry compote dessert from an old Hungry Man dinner variety. The nose carries a faint woodiness and there is an occasional note of mild camphor that may be the manifestation of some stems and underripe fruit-- but not enough to be a flaw in my estimation, merely a curiosity of character. I am pleased by the manageable 13.9% EtOH; hot pinots really turn me off.
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Moderately saturated garnet red. Expressive nose of red fruit, cola, and baking spices - something like cinnamon toast. Nice combination of fruit and acidity, finishing medium-long. This is clearly Californian, but acts like a Pinot ought to. Good stuff. Might improve, but nothing wrong with drinking it now.
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Accessed with Coravin. Crimson colored, surprisingly dark. This has a much more opulent nose than its siblings with ripe red fruit, roasted meats and faint fennell bulb aromas emerging. The palate is an entirely different story, with light berry and cola flavors underpinned by faint acidity. Compared to the Sonoma County of the same vintage this comes off as a bit lightweight. Not much structure here to support more than a couple years of additional aging. Drinking just fine now, but far from the top of the Williams Selyem rage.
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Nose and dominant flavor of sour cherry. Muddy and chaotic midsection. Dry finish. That's about it. What a disappointment. At least the EtOH clocks in under 14%.
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This winemaker is special to me because they are recognized as not only the finest producer of California Pinot Noir, but also as a champion barbecue team who has recently competed in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Contest. This is one of the first of their wines I received after getting on their mailing list. And even though their fall releases are considered their lineup’s bettors, this spring released Somoma County bottle is round, full-bodied and packed with rhubarb, strawberry and mid palette goodness. It’s excellent wine, and I could just hug myself for obtaining more than just the bottle I drank tonight. Invite me over for salmon, pork chops or chicken, and I’ll bring a bottle to share. I promise. All I ask is you don’t be an asshole or try to convince me that my politically liberal leanings are immoral. Almost everything else I can tolerate.
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What a fantastic PN. Perfectly balanced. A touch more body than other vintages of this wine but not surprising considering its a 2009. Drinking well now but should last a few more years
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My notes totally agree with Annie's. This bottle came off as flat and boring with a bitter finish. This isn't the first bottle of WS I've been disappointed with. A 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that's off the mark? I don't get this producer.
What a disappointment. Hopefully this was an off bottle. Color was a beautiful light ruby. There was NO fruit, only alcohol on the nose even after being open for 3 hours. This was harsh with alcohol being predominate on the palate. The finish was bitter and finally, at the very end of the evening, the flavor of cherries came through. This is the first time I've compared wines in my tasting notes. Last night we opened a 2009 Sojourn Sangiacomo Vineyard which was equal in price to this WS Sonoma Coast. The difference was huge and a powerful eye opener. Why would I continue to pay this much money for a William Selyem wine that doesn't begin to compare to a pinot noir like the Sojourn we enjoyed last night? Hmmm, gonna have to start paying attention.
This wine held up over 5 days of drinking and never lost its intensity, in fact even got better after the first day. Earthy, cola, and tea aromas. Smooth to drink.
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Dark and full bodied for a Pinot Noir. Vanilla, blackberry, ripe black cherry, cola, black licorice and even some pepper on the nose. Medium plus body with velvety tannins and a silky texture. Cola, blackberry, coffee and black cherry on the palate with a hint of strawberry. Very nice wine, but could use a few more years to develop.
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Beautiful wine. Opened up with bright raspberry, toasted cedar, and anise notes. As the night went on, lost some of the fruit but gained forrest floor, sage and tobacco notes. Unsure if this wine will age past another 5-6 years (which is still very impressive). It missed a little structure that I look for when determining how long a wine will go. Overall, a great drink right now.
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Absolutely delicious. Rich aromas promising flavors of raspberries, cherries, and strawberries. And once the wine hits the palate, the promise is delivered. Delicious with a nice soft feel. This wine rocks.
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Another beautiful WS Pinot. Elegant and full-bodied at the same time. A touch of heat on the finish. Complex flavors. Great wine, but not the best value.
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Opened and poured, this wine gave a solid showing and seemed more complete and harmonious than previously tasted bottles. At this stage, it is possible for this wine to improve with and additional year or two of bottle age.
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First of my 3 bottles, drinking well despite its youth. Balanced, great creamy nose, just the right amount of tartness on the palate, long finish. Will only get better with some more time in the bottle.
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Upon opening, this wine brings a lot of fruit both on the nose and palate. It doesn't do a lot to distinguish itself from many typical fruit forward styles of lesser value, at this point. It really needs some time to develop and aerating does a lot to help. I returned one week later to find a much more interesting profile. Deep ruby color, but not opaque. The nose is quite floral with some black licorice. Silky mouth feel. Again floral components come through on the palate. A bit peppery. Juicy and full of red fruit - cherry and strawberry. Very enjoyable. Some tannin, but not enough to make me think it should lay down for very long. I'm interested to see where it is in three years.
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This bottle just did not taste right to me. Not sure if it is just disjointed and in a dumb phase right now or if it will get any better. The red fruit is harsh and bitter at best. The tannins and acidity do nothing but mute the fruit. No pleasant pepper or spice either. Not an enjoyable experience. Will cork it for the night and see if any better tomorrow. I don't think it will improve but we will see. Expected much more from this winery at this price.
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Deep ruby color. Cherry, licorice, cinnamon and clove. Nice red fruit, cherry and baking spices on the palate. Nce acidity; hints of vanilla on the finish.
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Color: garnet that diminishes to a soft red on the rim. Nose: red fruit with anise, forest floor, peat, leather palate: full-bodied. Needs more time. Great entry and long finish. Great now. Better in a week.
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We served this with a pretty heavy meat dish - beef tenderloin with porcini mushrooms and pancetta - but we think this went very well with it. Nice choice for Christmas dinner!
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This showed well but lacked the focus and harmony to provide a more compelling experience. The bouquet shows cherry cola, vanilla, spice and subtle earth notes. The color is a medium ruby that is youthful and appropriate for the wines age. The medium bodied palate shows good forward youthful fruit but a somewhat disjointed finish. Hopefully a year or two of additional bottle age will provide better balance and overall focus.
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Overall, this is one of the better WS pinots I've had on release, and perhaps the best appellation pinot. More often, the appellation wines tend to be too acidic for my taste on release, requiring a few years in the bottle to settle down. Not this one. The nose is a bit reticent, standard pinot fruit with a whiff of cola. It's the palate with relatively full fruit that's kept lively by a resinous note that lifts the wine up through the finish and keeps well away from "too heavy". Finishes a bit nervy and tight, with tannins increasing the longer it's in the glass. I wish I had known how good this was when I was ordering, as I would have bought more.
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The nose on the wine was floral with undertones of bright red berries and tabacco. the legs were not viscous and fast moving.
the medium bodied wine was dark red and cloudy and not overly fruity. the wine was not overly acidic and well structured. The flavors were of mid palate bright red tart strawberries underlay noticeable tannic notes of cocoa and bay leaf.
drinks well, but tannins will most likely improve with some cellared age.
the
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Opened the day it arrived - I was thirsty. Cloudy red color with nose of flowers and bright fruit. Very smooth, subdued palate of sweet cherry. Differnt wine on day 2 - not as aromatic, with nose of dry herbs and pencil eraser. Palate much more pronounced. Fuller bodied, with tart cherry and wood. Obviously needs time, but already interesting. Should be a good vintage.
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12/14/2022 - JoeDwine Does not like this wine: 89 Points
With Terriyaki Salmon….
Showing its age but not a bad pairing . Very dark and nice full mouthfeel. Some slight forest floor but nose is fairly shut. Drink up
The last few sips showed a very strong 92 points so it may just be one to spend some time with?
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12/28/2021 - rogerr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Disagree with some recent notes. Still vibrant and not showing age. Reserved about a glass for second day and there was no degradation.
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7/5/2021 - Buckwheet wrote: 89 Points
Agree with others that it is past its prime drinking window. Enjoyable but nothing special. Because the acidity is virtually gone, I would recommend as a drinking wine vs. pairing with food. Drink up!
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5/17/2020 - davudvl wrote:
Drink now. I believe it’s on its way down.
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2/5/2020 - BGK810 wrote: 90 Points
Raspberry, cherry, a bit of dark spice. Medium length finish. Drink now, but still has some time.
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9/13/2019 - MichielV wrote: 90 Points
Pretty good but drink it now! Good fruit still with good finish.
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4/9/2019 - J&BMwine91 wrote:
Brothers boat 19
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2/3/2019 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
All cherry. All the time. Delicious, great energy and focus while still being elegant. Love it.
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11/23/2017 - BMorelli Likes this wine: 88 Points
Really nice red fruit throughout. Still holding up well.
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11/18/2017 - H2OMansLibrary Likes this wine:
Finished the last bottle yesterday. Similar to my notes a year ago and not improving at this point. I'm amazed there are over 1,200 bottles of this in cellars according to Cellar Tracker, so I'd advise drinking up... a lot. :)
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4/22/2017 - Edclr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful example of non vineyard specific pinot, made even more alluring because it was out of magnum. Still lots of life remaining at least in this format. Well balanced, good acidity, fruit still very vibrant.
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1/27/2017 - brujazz wrote: 93 Points
At a perfect place. Redolent cherries, figs, coffee and chocolate. Big bouquet and long complex finish. All you can want from a California Pinot Noir.
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1/21/2017 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Black cherry fruit, still quite prominent with decent acidity. Found the fruit too forward and the style too lush for my palate.
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12/21/2016 - kenthargis wrote: 91 Points
Still had good life in it. Good acidity, trademark wonderful cherry fruit. Full of flavor.
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11/13/2016 - JS199 wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly good. Plenty of backbone with a little zip at the end. 91/92
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4/23/2016 - plitton Likes this wine: 88 Points
Typical raspberry. Some noticeably lost tannins but still pleasant. Has some effervescence and bitter finish. On the tail end of the drinking window.
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4/23/2016 - joelshine wrote:
Gave to mints. Did not try
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3/20/2016 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was surprised that I liked the '09 Russian River slightly more than this. If I were drinking them blind, I would have switched them. This had a distinctive root beer nose (spices, cola, black cherry) and the profile had a strong cola finish after a crisp rising beginning. Excellent.
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2/6/2016 - PVJC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very nicely, per other recent notes.
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1/21/2016 - H2OMansLibrary Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice deep reddish color. Wonderful fruit on the nose. Worth a second sniff. Well balanced, with only a very slight touch of acidity. Very good tannins. Not much left to age at this point. I think this is drinking about as well as it's going to get. I think it might get a bit thin and flat if it has too much time left in the cellar. I'll drink my last bottle soon.
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1/4/2016 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 91 Points
tasting nicely right now. very light and flavorful. sugar remnants and sediment to end the long smooth finish
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12/31/2015 - ajm2573 wrote: 95 Points
Blackberry and dark fruits on the nose. Red/purple in color and clear. Dark fruit and earthy with a long finish. Medium acidity, silky tannins and long finish. Decanted for 30 months minutes, but really needs a few hours.
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12/9/2015 - theharve wrote: 93 Points
wow what a difference from last year. Bottle variation? Slight tannic edge plus needed decanting plus 30 min=4-5 more years.
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10/20/2015 - davudvl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth and integrated. Soft tannins. Lots of fruit. Ready to drink.
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8/21/2015 - arthrovine wrote: flawed
corked
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7/19/2015 - milcopa Likes this wine:
93 pts. Not your typical Sonoma pinot, more Burgundian in style. Excellent, lightbodied with stone red fruits. Drinking great rightnow,.
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5/15/2015 - Old Gray Hare wrote: 87 Points
Winemaker stated that your mouth will 'burst' with flavors. Whispering is the verb I would use. Flavor was soft and smooth and I think I could appreciate strawberry/rhubarb.
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3/7/2015 - kleinahoe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit forward, not particularly complex.
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2/14/2015 - joraesque wrote: 88 Points
An excellent food wine so don't expect your typical Sonoma Coast candied Pinot. Seemingly incisive acidity that doesn't have enough fruit to balance it out, and the alcohol feels higher than the stated 13.9%. Really hard to rate this... quite excellent with food, and very good without if given enough air (and then perhaps not too much...). Went well with smoked duck breast and not so well with a slightly acidic butter lettuce salad. 88+ points
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1/12/2015 - underwds wrote: 90 Points
Definitely on the more delicate side. Bright red color and bright across the tongue. Red cherry and plum fruit. A little bit of gravel and a little bit more subdued oak. Moderately long finish.
4/10/2015 Didn't use the word "bright" at all, but otherwise similar notes.
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1/12/2015 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 91 Points
great wine, pared with turkey filet
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12/31/2014 - Boxster Guy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful wine. Red fruit driven with fine tannins. Paired well with a multi-course new years eve menu: smoked duck salad with melted leek tart, lobster bisque, rack of lamb with parsnip puree and a chevre cheesecake with roasted strawberries.
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12/29/2014 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine with bright red fruits and an acidic backbone typical of Sonoma Coast. Great win to pair with food especially to cut the fat of meat.
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12/29/2014 - jazzop wrote:
Nose of pronounced ethanol & strawberry, weak blackberry, very faint ginger. Initial taste of strawberry & raspberry; but conspicuously no earth, spice, or wood. Even the vanilla/oak has gone away. Very wet with no tannins to speak of. Acidity is pleasantly low (especially for this winemaker). After 30 sec, a subtle resurgence of baking spice comes forth. If you have any of these left, drink them NOW with your leftover holiday food. I can envision this going well with a turkey/cranberry sandwich and reheated sweet potatoes, or just to wash down those remaining Xmas cookies and fruitcake.
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11/25/2014 - theharve wrote: 87 Points
a crude jammy dumb wine withno characteristics of a pinot. could just as easily be an above average zinfindel. try again in 2 yrs. might be a good hamburger wine.
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6/29/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red in color. Excellent nose. Nice mix of red fruit and mineral , spice, and mushroom nuances. Was doing well 24 hrs after opening.
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6/26/2014 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright bing cherry. Smooth tannin. Love it.
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6/16/2014 - brujazz wrote: 92 Points
Just a beautiful wine. Pretty much at a peak state when decanted for two hours. Quite Burgundian, more elegant than a powerhouse. Perfect with Coco Vin. So happy I have another bottle.
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5/21/2014 - blaine Likes this wine:
Drinking very well, great acidity for the vintage
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5/17/2014 - dougie Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good. But, the fruit has faded a bit and the wine did not become more complex.
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5/1/2014 - jazzop wrote: 87 Points
The nose has a distinct undertone of laurel leaf or young oak bark, which persists throughout the drinking process like the drone notes from a bagpipe. There is an initial wet "grapiness" that gives way to faint blueberry and a dried-up remnant of red berry. Then, like the piper who has stopped playing the chanter, all that remains until the end is that constant drone of dry woodiness. Drink yesterday.
EDIT 2014-12-29: This may have been an outlier of a bottle. Look for my latest review.
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4/4/2014 - jbro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened this after finishing a 2007 Kistler, Kistler Vineyard. The Kistler has oodles of dark, sweet fruit--with resolved tannins balanced with moderate acidity--it's a guzzler. The WS is a contrast in style. Dark, but bright at the edges. Considerable legs. Cherry cola and strawberry shortcake on the nose. In the mouth and on the palate much more acidity than the Kistler and much less fruit, though there is a delicate balance. Very interesting. Incredible finish.
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3/15/2014 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
Nice wood and spice.
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1/25/2014 - CR_SF Does not like this wine: 70 Points
Almost undrinkable, very green and stemmy. Assumed it was corked, but not 100% sure after also being disappointed by the 2009 RRV.
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1/24/2014 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com wrote: 90 Points
Updated my tasting notes and bumped up 3 points based on a much better experience the second day. Initially very tight and harsh, sour raspberry & dark cherry but not pleasant fruit. Only slightly improving with some air, came across as thin so gave up after one glass. Day 2 the wine became richer, more defined and full bodied, the fruits were more prominent, sweet & juicy. Smooth tannins, just enough herbal & spice qualities to make it interesting. Major transformation. Hope I have better luck with my remaining Williams Selyem, have Central Coast & Russian River Valley.
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12/23/2013 - pgb67 wrote: 90 Points
Thanksgiving 2013 + a couple other parties: I wouldn’t have picked this out as W-S if tasted blind – shows a ripe, K-B style and does it reasonably well, although perhaps too much candy and not enough fruit – flavors and aromas of kirsch, framboise, almond extract and vanilla.
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11/23/2013 - WilliamF17 wrote: 87 Points
APPEARANCE = Deep black red, bright, purple tint, near opaque, no sediment; 4/4
BOUQUET = Tea, berry, mushroom, fairly tight scents, earth, herb, dark berries; 11/14
TASTE = medium body, crisp, a little sharp, tight, flat, mild fruit, stemmy; 12/18
PREFERENCE = tight, uninspired, a little harsh, stayed this way over several days, never released anything; 0/4
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11/10/2013 - jazzop wrote: 90 Points
Much better than the last bottle (which I reviewed here). Cherry, baking spices, and a little vanilla-oak remind me of the cherry compote dessert from an old Hungry Man dinner variety. The nose carries a faint woodiness and there is an occasional note of mild camphor that may be the manifestation of some stems and underripe fruit-- but not enough to be a flaw in my estimation, merely a curiosity of character. I am pleased by the manageable 13.9% EtOH; hot pinots really turn me off.
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9/25/2013 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Moderately saturated garnet red. Expressive nose of red fruit, cola, and baking spices - something like cinnamon toast. Nice combination of fruit and acidity, finishing medium-long. This is clearly Californian, but acts like a Pinot ought to. Good stuff. Might improve, but nothing wrong with drinking it now.
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8/19/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 88 Points
Accessed with Coravin. Crimson colored, surprisingly dark. This has a much more opulent nose than its siblings with ripe red fruit, roasted meats and faint fennell bulb aromas emerging. The palate is an entirely different story, with light berry and cola flavors underpinned by faint acidity. Compared to the Sonoma County of the same vintage this comes off as a bit lightweight. Not much structure here to support more than a couple years of additional aging. Drinking just fine now, but far from the top of the Williams Selyem rage.
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8/14/2013 - rogerr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid but not memorable.
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8/14/2013 - Food Daddy wrote: 91 Points
Agree woth mj nickel. Invite me too. I bring some more
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7/20/2013 - dougie wrote: 90 Points
Liked it a bit more on previous tastings. Less fruity than before, but not more complex.
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7/13/2013 - bemeyer wrote: 91 Points
nice berries and balance, classic ws pinot
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7/13/2013 - bemeyer wrote: 91 Points
nice berriew and balance, classic ws pinot
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6/29/2013 - rlleigh wrote: 92 Points
Best yet from this vineyard
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6/17/2013 - jazzop wrote: 86 Points
Nose and dominant flavor of sour cherry. Muddy and chaotic midsection. Dry finish. That's about it. What a disappointment. At least the EtOH clocks in under 14%.
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6/5/2013 - desler Likes this wine: 92 Points
rich fruit and great balance...a real pleasure
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4/6/2013 - dtirsell Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely blueberry, cherry nose. Slight oak adds pleasant depth. Slight pepper spice on the finish.
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3/24/2013 - mjnickel wrote: 92 Points
This winemaker is special to me because they are recognized as not only the finest producer of California Pinot Noir, but also as a champion barbecue team who has recently competed in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Contest. This is one of the first of their wines I received after getting on their mailing list. And even though their fall releases are considered their lineup’s bettors, this spring released Somoma County bottle is round, full-bodied and packed with rhubarb, strawberry and mid palette goodness. It’s excellent wine, and I could just hug myself for obtaining more than just the bottle I drank tonight. Invite me over for salmon, pork chops or chicken, and I’ll bring a bottle to share. I promise. All I ask is you don’t be an asshole or try to convince me that my politically liberal leanings are immoral. Almost everything else I can tolerate.
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3/8/2013 - Naso wrote: 93 Points
What a fantastic PN. Perfectly balanced. A touch more body than other vintages of this wine but not surprising considering its a 2009. Drinking well now but should last a few more years
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2/10/2013 - RobertDwyer Does not like this wine: 84 Points
My notes totally agree with Annie's. This bottle came off as flat and boring with a bitter finish. This isn't the first bottle of WS I've been disappointed with. A 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that's off the mark? I don't get this producer.
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2/2/2013 - Annie1 wrote: 84 Points
What a disappointment. Hopefully this was an off bottle. Color was a beautiful light ruby. There was NO fruit, only alcohol on the nose even after being open for 3 hours. This was harsh with alcohol being predominate on the palate. The finish was bitter and finally, at the very end of the evening, the flavor of cherries came through. This is the first time I've compared wines in my tasting notes. Last night we opened a 2009 Sojourn Sangiacomo Vineyard which was equal in price to this WS Sonoma Coast. The difference was huge and a powerful eye opener. Why would I continue to pay this much money for a William Selyem wine that doesn't begin to compare to a pinot noir like the Sojourn we enjoyed last night? Hmmm, gonna have to start paying attention.
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1/18/2013 - tonysmith72 wrote: 90 Points
Nice and elegant.
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12/15/2012 - Old Gray Hare wrote: 88 Points
Nice aroma but flavor was austere & muted. Good acid but not the richness to balance. Disappointed.
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9/18/2012 - BSZach1 wrote: 92 Points
This wine held up over 5 days of drinking and never lost its intensity, in fact even got better after the first day. Earthy, cola, and tea aromas. Smooth to drink.
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9/15/2012 - plitton wrote: 91 Points
Some cola and spice. Medium-heavy body. Good but missing character.
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8/3/2012 - Cutter wrote: 91 Points
Dark and full bodied for a Pinot Noir. Vanilla, blackberry, ripe black cherry, cola, black licorice and even some pepper on the nose. Medium plus body with velvety tannins and a silky texture. Cola, blackberry, coffee and black cherry on the palate with a hint of strawberry. Very nice wine, but could use a few more years to develop.
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8/2/2012 - jacamp16 wrote: 92 Points
Amazing balance. Delicious new world pinot flavors. Fantastic texture.
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7/15/2012 - MillenialWineGuy wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine. Opened up with bright raspberry, toasted cedar, and anise notes. As the night went on, lost some of the fruit but gained forrest floor, sage and tobacco notes. Unsure if this wine will age past another 5-6 years (which is still very impressive). It missed a little structure that I look for when determining how long a wine will go. Overall, a great drink right now.
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6/17/2012 - t4drman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Absolutely delicious. Rich aromas promising flavors of raspberries, cherries, and strawberries. And once the wine hits the palate, the promise is delivered. Delicious with a nice soft feel. This wine rocks.
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5/27/2012 - Sauvyfan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another beautiful WS Pinot. Elegant and full-bodied at the same time. A touch of heat on the finish. Complex flavors. Great wine, but not the best value.
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5/5/2012 - sehill wrote: 88 Points
Opened and poured, this wine gave a solid showing and seemed more complete and harmonious than previously tasted bottles. At this stage, it is possible for this wine to improve with and additional year or two of bottle age.
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3/19/2012 - blaine wrote: 91 Points
First of my 3 bottles, drinking well despite its youth. Balanced, great creamy nose, just the right amount of tartness on the palate, long finish. Will only get better with some more time in the bottle.
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3/11/2012 - johndefi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Upon opening, this wine brings a lot of fruit both on the nose and palate. It doesn't do a lot to distinguish itself from many typical fruit forward styles of lesser value, at this point. It really needs some time to develop and aerating does a lot to help. I returned one week later to find a much more interesting profile. Deep ruby color, but not opaque. The nose is quite floral with some black licorice. Silky mouth feel. Again floral components come through on the palate. A bit peppery. Juicy and full of red fruit - cherry and strawberry. Very enjoyable. Some tannin, but not enough to make me think it should lay down for very long. I'm interested to see where it is in three years.
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3/1/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 90 Points
Expressive nose of raspberry, violets and pepper. Medium body of red and black raspberry, sweet pipe tobacco, and smokey oak. Medium plus finish.
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2/24/2012 - diane.forgy@dianeforgy.com wrote: 84 Points
This bottle just did not taste right to me. Not sure if it is just disjointed and in a dumb phase right now or if it will get any better. The red fruit is harsh and bitter at best. The tannins and acidity do nothing but mute the fruit. No pleasant pepper or spice either. Not an enjoyable experience. Will cork it for the night and see if any better tomorrow. I don't think it will improve but we will see. Expected much more from this winery at this price.
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1/28/2012 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Cherry, licorice, cinnamon and clove. Nice red fruit, cherry and baking spices on the palate. Nce acidity; hints of vanilla on the finish.
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1/27/2012 - MillenialWineGuy wrote: 92 Points
Color: garnet that diminishes to a soft red on the rim.
Nose: red fruit with anise, forest floor, peat, leather
palate: full-bodied. Needs more time. Great entry and long finish.
Great now. Better in a week.
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12/25/2011 - Terramare wrote: 91 Points
We served this with a pretty heavy meat dish - beef tenderloin with porcini mushrooms and pancetta - but we think this went very well with it. Nice choice for Christmas dinner!
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9/24/2011 - Mr. Muga wrote: 89 Points
Agree with most of the CT tasting notes below. Definitely needs more bottle age to reach full potential.
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8/24/2011 - sehill wrote: 86 Points
This showed well but lacked the focus and harmony to provide a more compelling experience. The bouquet shows cherry cola, vanilla, spice and subtle earth notes. The color is a medium ruby that is youthful and appropriate for the wines age. The medium bodied palate shows good forward youthful fruit but a somewhat disjointed finish. Hopefully a year or two of additional bottle age will provide better balance and overall focus.
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7/31/2011 - Bjross1414 wrote: 90 Points
Strawberries and spices on the nose. A hint of leather as well. Tasted of crushed flowers, spices and a had a creaminess.
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6/26/2011 - jtinto wrote: 89 Points
Dominated by sour cherry. Acidic. Lean, zesty, tart, and punchy. Needs time but I wonder how much this can come around.
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6/1/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 93 Points
Overall, this is one of the better WS pinots I've had on release, and perhaps the best appellation pinot. More often, the appellation wines tend to be too acidic for my taste on release, requiring a few years in the bottle to settle down. Not this one. The nose is a bit reticent, standard pinot fruit with a whiff of cola. It's the palate with relatively full fruit that's kept lively by a resinous note that lifts the wine up through the finish and keeps well away from "too heavy". Finishes a bit nervy and tight, with tannins increasing the longer it's in the glass. I wish I had known how good this was when I was ordering, as I would have bought more.
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5/13/2011 - jclaess Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose on the wine was floral with undertones of bright red berries and tabacco. the legs were not viscous and fast moving.
the medium bodied wine was dark red and cloudy and not overly fruity. the wine was not overly acidic and well structured. The flavors were of mid palate bright red tart strawberries underlay noticeable tannic notes of cocoa and bay leaf.
drinks well, but tannins will most likely improve with some cellared age.
the
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4/16/2011 - wap1961 wrote: 91 Points
Very balanced, flowery aromatics over fruit structure. Not 'fruity' per se well melded flavors for a new wine, I expect to age well.
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3/18/2011 - KeithSurg wrote: 92 Points
Opened the day it arrived - I was thirsty. Cloudy red color with nose of flowers and bright fruit. Very smooth, subdued palate of sweet cherry. Differnt wine on day 2 - not as aromatic, with nose of dry herbs and pencil eraser. Palate much more pronounced. Fuller bodied, with tart cherry and wood. Obviously needs time, but already interesting. Should be a good vintage.
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