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: 2009 Williams Selyem "Papera" Russian River Valley Zinfandel

2009 Williams Selyem "Papera" Russian River Valley Zinfandel

SKU #1108163 93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Opaque ruby. Intensely aromatic nose offers candied red berries along with seductive notes of woodsmoke, spicecake and incense. Lush raspberry and blackberry compote flavors expand and deepen with air, with sweet floral pastille and cola notes coming up with air and lingering on the long, juicy finish. This suave, creamy, utterly seductive Zin is already drinking awfully well. Cabral told me that these vines were planted in 1932. Inner quote mark (6/2011)

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark The 2009 Zinfandel Papera Vineyard caresses the palate with dark red fruit, sweet herbs, tobacco, licorice and crushed flowers. There is an inner warmth and sweetness that gives the Papera much of its textured, open personality. I especially like the energy, focus and vibrancy. Exotic fruit, herb and spiced notes add complexity on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. (AG) Inner quote mark (2/2012)

92 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark Strikes a nice balance between the softness of the ’08 and the firmness of the ’07. A beautiful Zinfandel, made in the winery’s style of big, ripely extracted fruit and high alcohol. Massive in raspberry and cherry jam, red licorice, gingersnap cookie, cola, clove, black pepper and smoky cedar flavors, its extraordinary richness is balanced with fine, thick tannins. Inner quote mark (2/2012)

90 points Connoisseurs Guide

Outer quote mark Here is a wine made for Zinfandel purists and not one for casual sipping. Many will find it too ripe and so juicy as to hint faintly at sweetness, but its incisive varietal focus is beyond dispute, and what it may lack in nuance is more than made up for in fruity richness. It freshening acidity makes for a long, very bright finish, and, while wholly enjoyable now, it will age famously and might pick up a little extra complexity along the way. Inner quote mark (1/2012)

Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Deeply structured and briary, with black raspberry and fresh pepper aromas and zesty flavors of blueberry, dill and anise. Tannins firm up the finish. Best from 2013 through 2017. (TF, Web-2012) Inner quote mark

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2009 Williams Selyem "Papera" Russian River Valley Zinfandel

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Varietal:

Zinfandel

- The bid to name Zinfandel California's "State Varietal" may have failed, but this red wine grape, grown extensively in California since the mid-1800s, is grown in few other places in the world. Sadly, much of what's cultivated today is planted where it's too hot and flat. But when planted to well-drained, hillside vineyards that are warm but not too hot, like those in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley and Amador County in the Sierra Foothills, Zinfandel can produce wines with plenty of character. High in natural alcohol and tannin, grown carefully it can be rich and complex, with dark fruit berry fruit and peppery spice. The most known example of Zinfandel outside of California is Italy's Primitivo, which can be similar in style, but is often a bit lighter and less alcoholic than West Coast examples.

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.