2013 Williams Selyem "Hirsch Vineyard", "Olivet Lane", "Rochioli Riverblock" & "Terra De Promissio Vineyard" Pinot Noir 4-Bottle Tasting Lot

“Introduced by a lovely nose of fresh cherries and showing a careful touch of tailored oak sweetness, this very deep and decidedly well-crafted wine follows with generous and genuinely juicy young flavors that, while wholly engaging, have a sense of reserve that points the way to a bright future ahead. It is both tasty and tight with the exemplary balance and structure of an eminently age-worthy Pinot Noir, and, even more than its handsome companion from the Olivet Lane Vineyard, it warrants another three to five years of age. *Two Stars*” (06/2015)

“A virile, imposing wine, the 2013 Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio Vineyard is quite backward today, but the wine's energy and overall intensity are compelling. Crushed rocks, smoke, graphite, black cherries and spices open up in the glass, but the 2013 is at least a few years away from being ready to drink and it should cellar nicely for some time. Saline notes give the persistent finish an extra kick of intensity. This is a striking Pinot from Williams-Selyem. (AG)” (05/2015)

“The winery’s third vintage from this cooler-climate vineyard offers a mix of bright red cherry, wild, dried herb, rose and anise aromas rising to the fore. Lingering acidity keeps the firm tannins at bay-the two opposites finding a peaceful balance, allowing a freshness of citrus to succulently creep in on the finish. (VB)” (09/2015)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio Vineyard offers sweet and sour cherries, pomegranate and spice box, medium body, and a crisp, delicate finish. (RP)” (03/2016)

“Silky, with pronounced tannins that should mellow in time, this is an earthy, stemmy and perfumed wine. Succulent and balanced, it’s brightly exuberant in black cherry yet brooding and complex throughout, changing slightly from savory to floral and back again. *Cellar Selection* (VB)” (07/2015)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard is open, immediate and seductive, with radiant, expressive fruit and fabulous overall balance. Silky tannins add considerable polish to the suave finish. This supple, fruit-forward Pinot will continue to drink well for a number of years. (AG)” (05/2015)

“Pinots sourced from this well-regarded site are rarely wines of emphatic ripeness, and, while this effort adheres to the racy lines we expect, it delivers an extra measure of succulence and articulate, ripe-cherry fruit. It is deeply filled, slightly supple in feel and shows terrific finishing length, and, if absolutely delicious right now, it possesses the energy and fine balance of a wine that is clearly destined to gain if allowed to age for a few years.” (06/2015)

“Third-generation farmer Robert Pellegrini grows pinot noir at Olivet Lane Vineyard in the center of the Russian River Valley, the vines now over 40 years old. Williams Selyem winemaker Jeff Mangahas channeled the old-vine fruit into a heady 2013, its potent, sappy red cherry tone layered with nuanced aromas of dried herbs, violets and wood smoke. It’s ripe and warming, ready to decant for wild duck.” (08/2015)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard has a dark ruby color and plenty of pomegranate, black cherry and mineral. It is floral, medium to full-bodied, and again shows ripe, pure fruit, good acidity, and at least 10 years of aging potential. (RP)” (03/2016)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is another striking wine from Williams Selyem. Beams of tannin and acidity provide the backdrop for a powerful, structured Pinot endowed with real personality. Readers will have to be patient with the Hirsch, but it is terrific. (AG)” (08/2016)

“Here the cool and restrained nose only grudgingly offers up its beautifully layered aromas of spice, tea, lilac, red currant and pomegranate. There is excellent verve and delineation to the medium-bodied, caressing and seductive yet entirely serious flavors that are like a coiled spring before concluding in a wonderfully long if mildly austere finish. This is very Zen-like in its understated sense of harmony and refinement yet there is no lack of underlying material that should easily see this amply rewarding up to a decade of cellar time, indeed it will need at least 4 to 5 as this is very tightly wound at present. *Outstanding*” (04/2016)

“The mighty Hirsch rises to the occasion of a burly, near-perfect vintage, showing off its ability to be brawny and brainy at the same time. Black fruit, tar and tea take center stage, with an intensely tannic underbelly specked in wild herb and smoke. This baby needs time. *Cellar Selection* (VB)” (05/2016)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard has a dense ruby/plum color and an attractive nose of black cherries and currants as well as earth and forest. It is medium to full-bodied, concentrated, very youthful, fresh and rich. (RP) 91+” (03/2016)

“Offers a medley of fresh, vivid flavors of blueberry, blackberry and huckleberry. Retains a graceful, understated presence. (JL)” (06/2016)

“Expressive in oak, earth and clove with cinnamon-cola, this savory, complex wine is also impressive in its ability to offer crisp and focused lines of citrus and fresh-picked raspberry. It teeter-totters the variety's ability to be both fruit-forward and elusively hard to reach. Streaks of thyme and rosemary figure into the mix. *Ranked #4 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2016* (VB)” (05/2016)

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard has a very dense ruby/purple color and a beautiful nose of gun flint, raspberries, black cherries and blackcurrants. The wine displays full-body, super-duper richness and ripeness, beautiful minerality, and a long, long finish. This is a superb Pinot Noir and one of the best I tasted from this vintage in the Russian River. (RP)” (03/2016)