2017 Williams Selyem, Russian River Valley: "Bucher Vineyard" & "Calegari Vineyard" Pinot Noir Horizontal

“This has sappy red fruit and sous bois on the nose and palate with leafy aromas and a dried-rose edge. The palate has a bright and juicy feel with a fresh, crunchy red-cherry core. Nice interplay of acidity and tannins. Focused.” (12/2019)

“Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Calegari Vineyard has delicate aromas of woodsmoke, pipe tobacco, dried bark and amaro with black and red cherries and berries at the core plus hints of lilac and pepper. Light to medium-bodied, it's spicy in the mouth with citrus peel accents and earthy character plus a touch of classy new oak spice. It’s framed by tightly defined, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long. I can’t wait to taste this again after some more time in bottle. (EB)” (12/2019)

“The 2017 Pinot Noir Calegari Vineyard is a very pretty, perfumed wine that shows the more floral side of Russian River Pinot. Raspberry, white chocolate and sweet floral notes abound in this gracious, mid-weight Pinot Noir. The 2017 is a bit nervous, but its mid-weight structure makes it one of the more accessible wines in the range today. (AG)” (05/2019)

“A slightly fresher nose is derived more from the red side of the fruit spectrum while displaying background nuances of spice and lilac. Here too the medium weight flavors possess a sleek mouthfeel while exhibiting fine delineation on the dusty and equally mildly austere finale. I would make the same observation that this could use just a bit more depth though it may well develop more with bottle aging. *Outstanding*” (04/2020)

“This wine’s oak dissipates to reveal strawberry scents and richer cherry-scented fruit, then the oak reappears in smooth, chocolate-dense tannins. The flavors come together in the end, lasting with that cherry sweetness. Cellar it. (JG)” (04/2020)

“From a hilltop parcel with some loamy threads of soil that faces south, east and west. This has a very floral feel, offering sappy, foresty aromas with coal smoke and roasted meat, as well as earthy nuances. The palate has smooth and quite dense, smoked-berry flavors. Earthy.” (09/2019)

“The 2017 Pinot Noir Bucher Vineyard is powerful and gamy, as it typically is, but with fewer of the strong feral notes that have made some previous vintages challenging to taste and not especially pleasurable. Black cherry, plum, iron, game and smoke inform this powerful wine. The 2017 is quite possible the best Bucher I have tasted here. (AG)” (05/2019)

“Due to an unfortunate mechanical failure at the winery, this cuvée was not made in 2016. The 2017 Pinot Noir Bucher Vineyard has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and savory nose of prosciutto, cracked pepper, dusty earth, old leather, woodsmoke, ash and dried autumn leaves with black tea leaves, orange peel and black and red cherries and berries at the core. The light to medium-bodied palate is savory, intense and nuanced, framed softly by chalky tannins and finishing very long with great freshness. (EB)” (12/2019)

“A subtle application of wood sets off notably ripe aromas of red and black cherry that are trimmed in hints of menthol and spice. The sleek, delicious and nicely vibrant middle weight flavors retain good delineation on the ever-so-mildly austere finish. *Outstanding*” (04/2020)