2016 Precious Mountain Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard comes from dry-farmed, organic vines, some planted as early as 1971. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, it opens with blackcurrant and spiced black cherries, dried savory herbs, notes of nutmeg and warm cinnamon stick, perfumed earth and peppery/meaty touches with red berry sparks. The palate is light to medium-bodied and slowly fleshes out in the mouth—this is a more elegant, understated style—with grainy tannins and juicy freshness to lift the long, spicy finish. 318 cases produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
This site on the Sonoma Coast has produced a savory 2016 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard and it offers loads of mulled red and black fruits, leather, and dried flower aromas and flavors. It's rounded, nicely textured, has a singular character, and a great finish. A decade or more of longevity isn’t out of the question.
From a dry-farmed coastal site, this is a grippy, concentrated wine full of powerful tannins. Dried herb, tea, blood orange and pomegranate combine for a force of flavor as the wine broods and develops. — Virginie Boone
The 2016 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard is another of the more reticent wines in this range from Williams Selyem. Intensely mineral and savory notes are at the forefront, while the fruit is pushed into the background. Chalk, white pepper, citrus peel and smoke add character to the earth tones. Perhaps the 2016 will blossom a bit more in bottle, but today it is austere and unyielding, especially within the context of the other 2016s here.
About the producer
Williams Selyem is an iconic Russian River Valley winery best known for its Pinot Noir. Producing restrained yet classically Californian expressions of the heartbreak grape (as well as a host of other wines), the property has gone from pioneer to one of the region’s standard-bearers.