2010-2012 Williams Selyem "Westside Road Neighbors" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Vertical

“Ruby-red. Explosive, nuanced aromas of candied red fruits, fresh flowers and Asian spices, with deeper cola and licorice nuances gaining power in the glass. Sappy, expansive and appealingly open-knit, offering powerful red and dark berry compote flavors enlivened by allspice and candied rose. Finishes bright and nervy, with a repeating floral quality. (ST)” (05/2012)

“This has the depth and substance Pinot Noir can attain in the Russian River Valley, along with a firm balance. The blend includes fruit from the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard on Westside Road and longtime sources nearby—Allen, Bacigalupi, Bucher and Rochioli Riverblock. The cool year (with one searing heat spike in August) produced a relatively small crop with flavor intensity. The wine carries deep scents of roses, dark herbs and woodland mushrooms, a complex fragrance emanating from dark and supple fruit. The structural tension can carry the weight of the wine as it ages, and the smooth texture makes it a pleasure to drink now.” (08/2012)

“Intense and well-focused on vivid wild berry and raspberry flavors, with a wild, racy edge that's expansive and gains depth and nuance. (JL)” (09/2012)

“Another juicy, generous offering, the 2010 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is at once plump, yet also mid-weight and gracious. Sweet spice and floral notes wrap around a core of expressive, inviting Russian River fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. Hints of raspberries, strawberries and cinnamon linger on the finish. (AG)” (04/2013)

“Deep ruby. Powerful, seductively perfumed aromas of red and dark berry preserves, Asian spices and potpourri, with cola and vanilla nuances adding complexity. Stains the palate with vibrant black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors and picks up a smoky nuance with air. Shows impressive vivacity on the finish, which features silky tannins and a touch of candied rose. (ST)” (06/2013)

“A bit of mildly smoky oak spice sits just to the side of well-formed Pinot Noir fruit in the moderately rich aromas of this fairly expressive youngster, and, if never an overly extravagant wine, it is spot on in focus with good volume and balance. It firms and tightens a touch as it crosses the palate, but it shows very good length and should relax and unfold with three or four years of age. *One Star*” (06/2013)

“Bob Cabral blends this using fruit from Williams Selyem’s estate and neighboring vineyards along Westside Road, including Allen, Bacigalupi, Bucher and Rochioli Riverblock. It’s a rich Russian River style, juicy and satin-textured, while the wine’s firm tannins keep it savory and hold it to a crisp line. It’s full enough to serve with braised lamb shoulder.” (10/2013)

“Focused on pure, ripe cherry and raspberry, this features a crushed rock edge, lending grip to the flavors. (JL)” (07/2013)

“The wine is always a blend of the winery’s best vineyards in the northern, warm section of the valley, including Allen, Rochioli Riverblock and Williams Selyem’s Estate. The 2012 is dry, tannic, delicately structured and mouthwateringly tart, with cranberry, raspberry, cherry, sandalwood and dried herb flavors. *Editors' Choice* (VB)” (07/2014)

“This impressive young Pinot manages to be bright, fully ripened and fairly rich all at the same time, and it is as well-structured as it is generously filled. It is driven by deep, keenly defined fruit backed by a judicious measure of sweet oak, and it lasts and lasts at the finish with a fine sense of structure that portends even better to come. Like so many of the better Pinots from 2012, it is so fruity that it is bound to tempt early drinking, but it guaranteed to pay high dividends to those willing to wait for a couple of years.” (06/2014)

“Dark ruby. Pungent smoke- and spice-accented aromas of raspberry, cherry-cola and zesty minerals. Offers vibrant red fruit and candied rose flavors, with a touch of bitter blood orange adding focus and grip. Shows the urgency of a cooler vintage but with the depth of fruit one expects from wines made from this area. Finishes silky and long, with resonating minerality and excellent spicy persistence. (ST)” (05/2014)

“Bob Cabral has been making this benchmark Russian River wine since 2002, in this vintage blending estate fruit with four nearby vineyards west of the river: Bacigalupi, Bucher, Allen and the Rochioli Riverblock. His 2012 shows a lot of warmth and oak at first, but there’s a refreshing tension underneath, a crunchy cherry- skin grip that melds with the spiciness of oak to form an exuberant, satisfying Russian River classic. This would be great with sautéed mushrooms.” (08/2014)

“Some vegetal notes on the nose, with rhubarb and redcurrant fruit. Crunchy tannin and bright acid. Shows nice development, with loads of fruit to age further. 17/20 points. (RH)” (03/2018)