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. — 5 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. — 6 years ago

Migue Gustavo

9.5

Aromas of red cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and sweet tobacco.  Multi-layered flavors of red, blue and black berry fruit, plums, cherries and a hint of blood orange underpin subtle layers of exotic spice and toast.  Fine tannins and balanced acidity drive a long finish. Very Good. — 6 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.0

A potpourri of red fruit (cherries, pomegranate, raspberry) with floral notes. — 7 years ago

with Rick

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Fruits are ripe and bright. Big light and dark cherries, strawberries dry cranberries, pomegranate juice. Good sharp chalkiness and volcanic minerals. — 8 years ago

Jenny Hemmer

9.0

Cranberries, pomegranate & toasted caramel. — 8 years ago

Mvon Higgins

9.3

Deep ruby glass with translucent ruby rim. Medium nose of anise, caramel, black cherry, plum, vanilla and tobacco. Medium full body and medium acid to the palate with dark cocoa, raspberry and pomegranate. Small tannins leads to a lingering finish of cocoa and black pepper. Very well balanced with excellent structure for a fairly valued $36.99 USD. Recommended for your special dinner when a smooth wine is needed. — 8 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

Fruit that seems overripe or syrupy. Bright strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, pomegranate backed up with dark earth & chocolate, cinnamon stick, nutmeg and vanilla toasted oak. Smooth and easy to drink but a bit on the sweet side at this stage. Better in 5 years and will drink for another 5 years plus. — 9 years ago

Kristina Barton

10

Cherries plums and pomegranate oh my! And a dark fizzy wine too? All I can say is wow. 4th anniversary sexy drink check! — 10 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. — 5 years ago

James Rowell

9.8

Pomegranate juice. Slight funk. Great for a Saturday afternoon. — 6 years ago

Brendan Baker

9.0

More like a light red than a rosé, tart pomegranate, granite, fresh and funky 😜🎉👌 — 6 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. — 6 years ago

with Pierre

Joyce Lin

9.0

Slightly funky, tomato stem, dusty and mineral, menthol, ripe red berries, a bit woody, leathery with cigar, ashes on the nose, fig, dried strawberries, raspberry, pomegranate, raisin, slightly savory, nutmeg, all spice, preserved plum. Med body, med tannin. It's a Mourvèdre has a lot to offer. — 7 years ago

Weston Kim

9.0

Best to let breathe for a bit. Pomegranate and paint thinner in a good way. Dryish with a slightly sour finish. Great, reasonably priced wine. — 7 years ago

LM Segal

9.2

Giusto hits another one outta the park. Sicilian take on new world Pinot Noir, made in clay amphorae buried in the ground, light, pure pomegranate and red berry. Love how the clay and the red earth come through. Very long. Seek this out, decant a bit. — 8 years ago

Justin Brilman

9.0

Extremely true to terroir and Oregon Pinot all the way. Big nose of earth, mushroom perhaps and pure red fruit. Medium body but nice mouthfeel with notes of cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate and a little baking spice and minerality. Great acidity especially in the smooth finish. This is a well structured wine and extremely balanced even in its youth — 8 years ago

Mark Quezada

8.9

Tart pomegranate. Currants. Metallic — 9 years ago

Melissa Brown

9.0

raspberries and pomegranate. floral notes. very good. — 9 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Terrific nose out of the gates. Sour cherry, floral, pine resin, pine needles, lilacs, gorgeous florals. Cranberry as well. Even pomegranate. Stunning nose. Palate is s refined and ultra elegant with gorgeously sweet fruit. Silky and sweet with unreal fruit and lovely acidity. So silky and sweet with a gossamer like texture. Terrific and ridiculous. What a showing. — 5 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

2014 Barbaresco Produttori del Barbaresco- what can I say? She’s the queen! Strawberry jelly on toast is the bouquet! The palate has lots of cherry and pomegranate. Then comes the earth tones such as leather and tobacco but not strong the tannins are so mild due to the delicious mild fruit in this wine. The finish is mildly dry. Overall somewhat less acidic than the Barolo. Long live the Queen. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Sweet, savory & perfumed with a red berry fruits, pomegranate, earth, violets & baking spice. — 6 years ago

Jae Cho

9.0

Farmhouse funk followed by tart pomegranate. Polished — 6 years ago

with Diana

Kevin Cahoon

9.3

Young and a little closed with all spice, vanilla and floral notes with bright red cherry, black raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. Lots of earth tones and spice with oak touches to the black cherry and pomegranate fruit. Tannins are intense but round. Muted finish but still very young. — 7 years ago

Dan Thomas

8.9

A bit shy. Pomegranate and crunchy cranberry with nice acid and earth. Needs time to blossom — 7 years ago

Marissa A. Ross

Wine Editor, Bon Appétit

9.0

Sour patch kids and butter popcorn nose. The palate is velvety with pomegranate, a touch of chocolate and a figgy finish. Not as weird as its previous vintages, but still very enjoyable. Miss the massive funk though. — 8 years ago

Stacy Markow

9.1

Pomegranate and star anise. Alpine wine makes me happy. — 8 years ago

Raymond Domenico

9.3

Delicious spices with pomegranate and cherry, tobacco throughout, dynamic Pinot. — 9 years ago

D Roman

9.0

Never disappoints. Needs to open up a bit. Pomegranate for days...... — 9 years ago

Paul Weil

9.7

Organic Mendocino red wine grapes blended with pomegranate, blood orange, and acai berry juices. At only 8.5%, this is a great daytime sipping wine for grilling and barbecuing. More tart than sweet. — 10 years ago