Open Road Wine Company

Williams Selyem

Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir 2023

Williams Selyem – Pinot Noir “Westside Road Neighbors” – Vintage 2023
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An expressive and terroir-driven Pinot Noir from the revered Westside Road corridor of the Russian River Valley, a stretch synonymous with depth, precision, and complexity. This 2023 release from Williams Selyem showcases the hallmark elegance of the estate but with a more structured, site-focused personality.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe cherry, red currant, and plum compote intertwined with notes of black tea, baking spice, and subtle earthy undertones. Hints of cola and dried rose petals emerge as the wine opens, adding nuance to its aromatic range.

Mouthfeel
Texturally denser than the core RRV bottling, with a refined backbone of tannin and a sense of gravitas on the palate. Medium-plus body with impressive balance, equal parts finesse and muscle. The finish is long, savory, and mineral-tinged, reflecting the complexity of its vineyard sources.

Food Pairings
Perfect for roast duck with cherry glaze, wild mushroom tart, or seared salmon with soy-ginger glaze. The structure also pairs beautifully with richer poultry or pork dishes.

Verdict
A Pinot Noir of precision and presence, more grounded and terroir-driven than its softer sibling. “Westside Road Neighbors” is the connoisseur’s pick: powerful yet graceful, and built for cellaring.

Did You Know?
The “Westside Road Neighbors” cuvée blends fruit from several prestigious vineyards located along one of Sonoma’s most famous Pinot corridors, where fog and afternoon sun create the perfect microclimate for depth and elegance.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This Pinot stands out for its balance of structure and soul. A wine that feels both intellectual and emotional, it invites reflection while still being effortlessly enjoyable.
— 3 days ago

Ted, Vanessa and 1 other liked this

Domaine Jamet

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Already open, already definitive, already delicious. — a month ago

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Shay A

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Had the ‘05 with @Bill Bender last night at his house. Sorry for the bad weather I brought with me.

Rosenblum Cellars

Rockpile Road Vineyard Zinfandel 2004

2004 | Zinfandel
Rosenblum Cellars; Rockpile Road Vineyard
Sonoma County; Rockpile AVA, CA, US
(90-92; Drink 2014-2029)
— 3 months ago

Peter, Daniel and 26 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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16.3! Holy headache, Batman!
Severn G

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I think it's more like 6.3 now 😂
Jay Kline

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@Severn G I think we have previously talked about our shared experience with old Rosenblum. What a pull!

Felton Road

Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2016

Quite light garnet wide terracotta , garnet rim. Quite a lot of dry spice , nutmeg , star anis , red cherry, raspberry , red currant , earthy hints . After a while a bit more leafy , smoky on the nose. On the palate this is quite light and direct in style , raspberry , red cherry and those earthy , granite touches . This has fresh acidity and fine , light tannins . Reasonable earthy , spiced finish . Certainly ready and on this showing will probably last ok another 5 or so years. Not the most complex , overall I found it a little pedestrian, but still showing ok , but no need to wait any longer , I don’t see this improving . — 3 days ago

Tom, Chris and 6 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Opened but not decanted. Tasted after one hour open. More structure than the 1990 version tasted side-by-side but leaner with slight, vegetal tones, less fruit and better tannic structure than the 1990. Couldn't find this in my Delectable reviews but feel like I've tasted this once in the last 6 or so years. Apples (1990 version)/Oranges (1989). As with the 1990, the 1989 is in a good place for another few years in the 750ml format but if you want to truly visit a 35+ year old vintage at the height of its' powers, opt-in for a large format experience. 10.10.25. — 23 days ago

Jeroen, Dave and 24 others liked this
Shay A

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Opened this in 2019 for my wife’s 30th and I still think about that wine six years later. Stunning.

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1994

Medium ruby garnet , quite thin garnet rim , quite youthful in appearance. Quite exuberant and open from the off blackcurrant , cedar , tobacco , touch of earthy sous bois and grafite, still really quite alive . On the palate this is quite fine boned and elegant , cassis , cedar , blackberry and grafite notes . Refreshing acidity and resolved tannin , with quite reasonable length and good saline balance . Really quite classic , and though not a big , or intense wine , it is well balanced and at peak . Now and over the next 5 - 10 years. Surprises positively for a 1994. — 2 months ago

Dave, Jan and 14 others liked this
Rob Brobst III

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@Andrew Cullimore I am very surprised that you found this Wine so expressive yet it’s only a 9.1? Normally, a wine of that caliber has notes of red fruit or dark fruit or cassis and that’s it. Nevertheless, this is an excellent wine.
Andrew Cullimore

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thanks for your comments @Rob Brobst III , I think overall it’s a commendable wine given the vintage , and is showing really quite well still , certainly at peak drinking . However within the context of other vintages of Mouton it certainly would suffer if there was a direct comparison, which we didn’t have yesterday. It is not long or intense on the palate , and probably is at its most interesting on the nose . I think the score reflects a solid, well made wine in a difficult vintage , I would certainly have no problems enjoying more bottles of it !

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Complex SB from NZ. Cucumber veggie notes with minerality such as flint etc — a month ago

Louis Roederer

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Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — 24 days ago

Ira, Jan and 17 others liked this

Gargiulo Vineyards

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Wow! This is what Rose is supposed be! Bold yet refined. Fruit yet subtle acidity. Lovely salmon color. Strawberries dominate with watermelon and raspberry tones. The best!

Never had a Rose where I could smell the empty glass all night long!
— 2 months ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Shay and 5 others liked this