Wine Article
2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma County
Last edited on 5/30/2021 by alexparr
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WINEMAKER COMMENTS
The aromas of fresh maraschino cherries, spiced cider, wild strawberries, smoked meats, herbs and rose water instantly fill your glass. This medium bodied wine shows true pinot flavors of cherry jam, wild raspberries, root beer, anise and oyster mushrooms. The tannins are rich and full across the palate, and the wine finishes fresh and supple with a note of tart cherries at the end. —Winemaker Bob Cabral
THE VINEYARDS
The pinot noir for this blend was sourced from the Bucher Vineyard, our Drake Estate Vineyard, the Lone Oak Vineyard, and from our Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard.
HARVEST 2009
Following the hardships of the 2008 growing season, late winter and spring of 2009 were unseasonably warm with little precipitation. Bud break occurred early March and unlike 2008, frost was not a problem. Berry set was even, benefitting from ideal daytime temperatures around 70F-75F, despite early May rains. Some bunch-stem necrosis was evident on our vineyards, resulting in loss of yields.
The summer months were characterized by cooler than average weather, aided by morning fog, with very few heat spikes during the fruit ripening stage of the vine growth cycle. This resulted in intense flavor and aroma development, good acidity and phenolic development in tune with sugar accumulation. Warmer weather in late August ensured optimal ripeness culminating in harvest commencing in earnest by the Labor Day weekend. A warm September ensured that all Pinot Noir (Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Central Coast), Zinfandel and Chardonnay were picked before the mid-October rains that played havoc with later ripening varieties. Moderate yields delivered wines of exceptional color, flavors, and aromas with balanced acidity and tannins.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Barrel Description: 25% new, 50% 1 year old, 25% 2 year old
Barrel Aged: 10 months
pH: 3.56
TA: 0.71g/100ml
Alc: 13.6%
Released Spring 2011
$37
Source: Winery web site
The aromas of fresh maraschino cherries, spiced cider, wild strawberries, smoked meats, herbs and rose water instantly fill your glass. This medium bodied wine shows true pinot flavors of cherry jam, wild raspberries, root beer, anise and oyster mushrooms. The tannins are rich and full across the palate, and the wine finishes fresh and supple with a note of tart cherries at the end. —Winemaker Bob Cabral
THE VINEYARDS
The pinot noir for this blend was sourced from the Bucher Vineyard, our Drake Estate Vineyard, the Lone Oak Vineyard, and from our Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard.
HARVEST 2009
Following the hardships of the 2008 growing season, late winter and spring of 2009 were unseasonably warm with little precipitation. Bud break occurred early March and unlike 2008, frost was not a problem. Berry set was even, benefitting from ideal daytime temperatures around 70F-75F, despite early May rains. Some bunch-stem necrosis was evident on our vineyards, resulting in loss of yields.
The summer months were characterized by cooler than average weather, aided by morning fog, with very few heat spikes during the fruit ripening stage of the vine growth cycle. This resulted in intense flavor and aroma development, good acidity and phenolic development in tune with sugar accumulation. Warmer weather in late August ensured optimal ripeness culminating in harvest commencing in earnest by the Labor Day weekend. A warm September ensured that all Pinot Noir (Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Central Coast), Zinfandel and Chardonnay were picked before the mid-October rains that played havoc with later ripening varieties. Moderate yields delivered wines of exceptional color, flavors, and aromas with balanced acidity and tannins.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Barrel Description: 25% new, 50% 1 year old, 25% 2 year old
Barrel Aged: 10 months
pH: 3.56
TA: 0.71g/100ml
Alc: 13.6%
Released Spring 2011
$37
Source: Winery web site