Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Oh to have neighbors like these, bringing together several vineyard sites along this coveted stretch of the appellation. This bottling shows full-bodied richness and minerality dotted in a rose garden of pretty aromas and flavors. It's the silky-smooth texture that's most memorable, accented in earthy black tea and subtle oak tones.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A powerful and forceful rendition of the grape variety, the 2014 Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors shows up with lots to offer. The wine's bold black fruits and savory oaky notes pair it well with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: November 17, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.