Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of America's top red wines, the 2014 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, from the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard, comes out of the gate with power and elegance. The wine exhibits vivid red and black fruits in the flavors that are pleasingly tempered by a suggestion of chalk and earth. The tannins are youthful now and may take a little time to settle down. (Tasted: November 18, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard (from the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard) is simply stunning. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, it offers a gorgeous floral perfume over crushed red cherries, raspberries and wild strawberries with a hint of cinnamon toast. The delicate, medium-bodied palate possesses exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and a racy backbone supporting the intense flavors, finishing long and layered.
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James Suckling
Aromas of iodine and spice with dark berry and cherry. Full body, round and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Salty and mineral finish.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
On the positive side of its ledger sheet, this very sure-footed wine counts fine balance, great depth and terrifically sustained fruity focus, and its single entry in its debit column is a touch of slightly too-obvious tannin. When its many pluses and one minus are looked at in sum, it is a Pinot that comes up deep in the black, and those who are willing to invest a bit of time and wait for future dividends are guaranteed to be very pleased that they did.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.