1997 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (26) Avg Score: 92.1 points

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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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