2007 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Bucher Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2007 Pinot Noir Bucher Vineyard offers up aromas of wild strawberries and cherries intermixed with a steely, crushed rock-like flintiness. With lots of minerality, medium to full body, beautiful fruit purity, and an elegant, layered mouthfeel, it is not a big Pinot, but a stylish example that should be at its best in several years, and age nicely for 10-12. The single vineyard Pinot Noirs are made from a wide range of California vineyards, primarily in the north, with Russian River and Sonoma Coast dominating, but there is also an Anderson Valley site (Ferrington), San Benito site (Vista Verde), and Yorkville Highlands (Weir). The Chardonnays are nearly as powerful as the Zinfandels in terms of alcohol strength, ranging from 14.5% to 14.8%. Tel. (707) 433-6425; Fax (707) 433-6546
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright red. Ripe cherry and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by cola and rooty sassafras. Powerful, deeply concentrated berry and cherry compote flavors coat the palate, with dusty tannins providing firmness. A sexy note of candied flowers gains volume with air and carries through the strikingly long, sappy finish. This benefited a lot from air and should be given a few more years of rest. These vines were planted in 1970, according to Cabral.
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.