Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Pristine, cherry-like fruit is teamed with neatly placed oak in a way that makes for fine first impressions here, yet for all of the wine’s varietal precision and considerable fruity charm, it is framed by enough slightly piquant acidity to wind up a touch tart and nervy. That said, its essential fruit is both constant and quite deep, and it is structured to grow. It is far more than a pretty face, and we would lobby for no less than three or four years of age.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From one of the famous iconic sites associated with Williams Selyem, juicy black and red currants, cherries, crushed rock and spice jump from the glass of the dark ruby 2013 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard. It is medium to full-bodied, still tannic and youthful, and a likely candidate for improvement over the next 5-6 years. Moreover, it should last 15 or more. Rating: 91+
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.