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: 2009 Williams Selyem "Estate Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2009 Williams Selyem "Estate Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

SKU #1108154 96 points Decanter

Outer quote mark Outstanding Williams Selyem’s Pinots show pert red and/or black fruit (depending on vineyard source) and crackling acidity. This bottling from its new estate vineyard has more heft and tannin, yet it remains suave and elegant, with blackberry, beetroot, kirsch and sassafras notes. (Panel Tasting) Inner quote mark (10/2018)

95 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark From the winery’s own Westside Road vineyard, formerly called Litton, comes this grandiose, if immature, Pinot Noir. In its youth it’s all about primary, jammy raspberry and cherry fruit. On the edges are fine acidity, smooth tannins and a perfect appliqué of oak. Shows the hallmarks of this great, emerging vineyard, but needs serious time to come around. *Cellar Selection* Inner quote mark (2/2012)

94 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Beautifully crafted, intense and vibrant, displaying zesty wild berry, raspberry and red and black licorice notes. Full-bodied and focused, gaining depth and richness. (JL) Inner quote mark (4/2012)

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Bright ruby. Heady, expansive bouquet of raspberry compote, cherry-vanilla and gingerbread, with notes of white pepper and licorice in the background. Smooth and fleshy in the mouth, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and nuances of candied flowers and herbs. Pretty hefty but by no means thick--in fact this is pretty lithe. Finishes with very good clarity and smoky, floral persistence. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2011)

92 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark Nose has deep cherry overtones with light hints of cranberry. This medium-bodied wine is tight and structured with tension and focused fruits. It needs a few years to come together and show its full potential. Inner quote mark (6/2012)

91 points Connoisseurs Guide

Outer quote mark This is not a bold wine nor is it one of great reach, but its wonderfully precise and keen sense of fruit is nevertheless the mark of true success. It is bright and buoyant and exceptionally long on the palate, and, when a wine has the beauty and careful proportion that this one does, it simply does not need more muscle or oak or size to be better. Sometimes less really is more. *Two Stars* Inner quote mark (2/2012)

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2009 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard shows off gorgeous depth, intensity and balance. Dark cherries, spices, licorice and sweet herbs are some of the many notes that are woven together in this vivid, elegant wine. The Estate impresses for its terrific overall balance and sheer energy. (AG) Inner quote mark (2/2012)

Wine & Spirits

Outer quote mark This grows at Williams Selyem’s latest vineyard project, planted in 2002, a half-mile south of the Allen Vineyard on Westside Road. Those vines outperformed many of their Russian River neighbors in 2008, but their fruit is more recessed in 2009, at least at the moment we tasted this wine. There’s a sweet cranberry scent to the fruit, but it’s mostly hidden under new oak. Bottle age should bring the elements into better balance and winemaker Bob Cabral is confident in the future of his 2009s. Inner quote mark (4/2012)

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2009 Williams Selyem "Estate Vineyard" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

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Varietal:

Pinot Noir

- One of France's most legendary grapes and the grape that earned Burgundy its reputation. The parent of varietals like Pinot Gris/Grigio and Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir is blue to violet to indigo in color with relatively thin skins, and it is said to have been cultivated in France for more than 2,000 years. At its best, Pinot Noir creates elegant wines that are filled with primary red fruit aromas and flavors while young, revealing with an array of secondary characteristics like earth, smoke, violet, truffle and game with age. The varietal is also known, perhaps better than any, for its ability to translate terroir, or a sense of place. While the best Pinot Noir still comes from Burgundy, it is being produced with increasing success in cooler climates around the world. In France, it is part of the trifecta of grapes that can go into Champagne, and it is also grown in Alsace, Irancy, Jura, Savoie, Lorraine and Sancerre. Outside of France it is produced under the names Pinot Nero and Blauburgunder in Italy's mountainous regions, as Spätburgunder in Germany and as Blauburgunder in Austria. In the US, Pinot Noir has found suitable growing conditions in the cooler parts of California, including Carneros, the Russian River Valley, the Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast, Monterey County, the Santa Lucia Highlands and Santa Barbara County, as well as in Oregon's Willamette Valley. In recent years, New Zealand has demonstrated its ability to interpret this hard-to-grow varietal, with successful bottlings coming from careful and attentive growers in Central Otago, Martinborough and Canterbury. Chile is also an up-and-coming region for Pinot Noir, creating fresh, fruit-forward, early-drinking and affordable Pinots from the coastal Casablanca Valley and the Limari Valley.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Alexander Valley/Russian River

- Among Sonoma County's northernmost appellations, the Alexander Valley AVA acts as a gateway to neighboring Napa to the east and Mendocino to the north. It is a sprawling appellation, with pockets of distinct microclimates and soils, and as such, is home to a variety of wine grapes and styles. Nearly everything grows in the Alexander Valley, though Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are the most widely planted grapes. The Russian River Valley lies to the south of Alexander Valley, and is marked by much cooler temperatures and frequently heavy fog. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown here are some of the state's finest and most sought-after. Aromatic whites like Gewürztraminer and Riesling can also be successful, and sparkling wine production has a long history in the area.