Jeremiah Diaz

9.5

Deep pink color; pomegranate, raspberries and grape stems on the nose; high acidity; smooth tannins; tastes like sour cherries and cranberries with a long finish. Went really well with a creamy pasta sauce. — 3 years ago

Brad Jensen

8.9

More cranberry and much more tart than previous years, still very good. The color of pale cranberry juice with bold notes of pomegranate and a very dry finish. — 4 years ago

John Willison

9.1

Raspberry, cherry, citrus, pomegranate, damp earth. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

2006 was a challenge for most in Rioja but the 2006 Vina Tondonia ‘Reserva’ is truly one of the wines of the vintage. The wine is a highly compelling blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), which was sourced from their estate vineyards and aged for six years prior to bottling. Needing a two hour decant to fully express itself, the wine offers an aromatic profile of cranberry, orange, red currants, red cherry candy and toasty oak aromatics. The palate is plush once in the attack as the wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate, producing a seamless effect. Red currants, blood orange zest, pipe tobacco flavors and shades of pomegranate seed all beautifully weave their way through the palate. Showing wonderful ageing potential, this is drinking marvelously right now and has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I’ve had a a fair amount of older Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs, this one is the most different. It seems more extracted and darker than the bright; cherries, strawberries & pomegranate Pinots from them that we’ve had a run on over several years.

The noses reveals, deep, dark, ripe; currants, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries with hints of blue fruit. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity, sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and just a hint of violets.

The body is medium full. It has gorgeous mouthfeel. There are still round, softened, teethe & tarry tannins here. Tannins were in the bottle neck which, is not always traditional even in older Pinot’s. The structure, tension, length and balance are really nice with another three to five years of good drinking ahead. It’s right around its peak. Perhaps, just the other side of the bell curve. Dark, ripe; currants/cassis, blackberries, black cherries with liqueur notes, baked black plum, black raspberries, cooked rhubarb, raisins with more blue fruit showing vs. the nose. Touch of smokiness, cinnamon, clove, light nutmeg, vanillin, black licorice, mid intensity sweet tarriness, herbaceous notes, mint/eucalyptus character, touch of tree sap, black, rich earth, steeped fruit tea, limestone, dry rock powder, dark chocolate bar, mocha notes with fresh, withering & dry, dark, red florals and violets beaming on the finish. The acidity is excellent. The long finish is; ruby, ripe, elegant, gorgeous, extremely well balanced and persists on the palate with warm, dark spice.

IMHO, Williams Selyem Pinot Noirs do not score well early and really shine at 10 years plus in many vintages. They are a Sonoma Pinot pioneer and a gold standard comparison for other producers and Pinot lovers to take note.

Photos of; Williams Selyem winery, Sofia’s great handy work with flowers and one of our two raised garden boxes. 💐 🌸 🌺 🌹🌼🥀 🌽 🥒🥬 🍅

Happy Memorial Day weekend all! Hope you are grilling & enjoying some of your favorite wines. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Sweet, savory & perfumed with a red berry fruits, pomegranate, earth, violets & baking spice. — 8 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Somm decanted and tossed bottle; but was the 1995 at a good price at Adalina in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Nice bit of browning… smooth silken, resolved tannins, pretty light touch on the palate. Ripe cherry, dusty dryness… perfect foil for braised veal shanks with pomegranate reduction and creamy polenta. Great producer, lovely wine, and perfect maturity. Long, chewy finish. — 3 years ago

AEL

9.0

Full, fresh nose with lemon, pomegranate (or maybe raspberry), metal. Almost crunchy on the palate, with red lollipop flavors. Long, defined finish. A great wine, and clocking in at only 10.5% ABV. — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

Pronounced aromas of red fruits and spice. There’s a sort of pomegranate and mustiness to the wine. A little bit mousey. There are obviously aromas of the whole cluster fermentation. I like it. It is balanced, juicy and crunchy. #galicia #mencia blend #spain — 5 years ago

with Rosario

Shengli Hu

9.1

Smoke, lavender, violet, juicy cranberry and pomegranate concentrate, tomato juice, fresh red cherry. High acidity, medium+ tannins, sweet baking spices. Elevated body. Medium+ intensity, and finish. 13% — 6 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A deep ruby color with a wide brim. A huge burst of fruit on the nose consisting of raspberries, wild strawberries, and pomegranate with cedar notes bringing up the rear. This is a very deliberate Pinot. Showing a consistent profile through the vintages, it’s a really nice juxtaposition of delicate fruit and a full body with firm tannins. A bit of elegance on the palate with more nice red fruit, baking spice, toasted cedar, and lavender. This is such a nice representation of this style of Pinot, it really is quite well done. — 7 years ago

James Rowell

9.8

Pomegranate juice. Slight funk. Great for a Saturday afternoon. — 8 years ago

Marc Melser

9.0

We had this on 5/3-4/18. A real good example of the Sonoma Coast AVA. Tastes of pomegranate, orange peel, cinnamon and spice. A well balanced, medium bodied wine. — 8 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.2

Floral nose, raspberry, pomegranate, sous bois, high acid, fine tannin 😍 — 3 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

2020 vintage. Very red-fruited and spicy. Red currant, pomegranate, crab apple, cranberry, violet, black tea, cassia, white pepper, dried sage, hibiscus. No hint of smoke taint, which is awesome. — 4 years ago

Jody Wycech

9.3

Really enjoyed this wine. Pomegranate, herbs, and a hint of sulfur on the nose. Tannic with a little bite. Medium body, nice complexity. Would love to have again. — 5 years ago

with Diane and Peter

Nik Weinberg-Lynn

9.1

Not much left on the nose - a little whiff of pomegranate. Super savory and saline notes on the palate. Interesting. — 6 years ago

Eric L.

9.3

Delicious and perfectly balanced. Lovely, pure pomegranate fruit with a hint of orange zest and vanilla. Very well made and an excellent value. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Still detoxing from Napa & Bordeaux Cabernet.

The nose reveals; dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some plum & blue fruits, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals.

The body is on the fuller and richer side of Pinot. The wine is beautifully elegant across the palate. For a wine not coming from my best storage, this has held up nicely and showing far more complexity and integration than say a year ago. The structure & tension are still firm while the length and balance are approaching its high point. Dark cassis with some currants, some tarriness, hint of savory, smoked meats, black licorice to the core of anise, blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate extract, dry cranberries, some creamy black raspberries, mashed strawberries flesh, plum & blue fruits, raisins, dark fruit cola, liqueur notes, limestone minerals, some crushed rock powder, dark, long lasting spices with some heat, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, light vanilla, hints of sage & bay leaf, dark rich forest floor with dry leaves, dark fresh & withering flowers with a touch of bright red florals. The acidity is quite nice with well balanced fruit & earth finish that is persistent for minutes.

Photos of; Hope & Grace’s Stag’s Leap Vineyard, a very old vine which, I would say is 60 plus years old, Winemaker-Charles Hendricks willing to still do the heavy lifting and one of my favorite paintings that used to be in the Hope & Grace tasting room but, now is in Charles house. — 7 years ago

Elizabeth Rice

9.0

Difficult vintage which only 45 barrels were made, half of what normally is made. Luckily they picked before the massive rains. Mossy pomegranate with balanced acids. Tasting next to 2014 which was a better vintage comparatively. — 8 years ago

with Pierre