David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Not exactly pizza wine but, I bought six bottles of this 02 Williams Selyem for $35-$36 w/ tax & fees recently on the secondary market. I have enjoyed a number of their 02’s for many years…such a great Pinot Noir Sonoma vintage. Especially, for WS. I feel for the seller who actually barely might have broke even or even lost a couple of bucks on this sale after fees.

Still spectacular after 18 plus years in bottle. She is still strutting her stuff.

Visually you look at the color in the glass, it’s silty & cloudy.

The body is ripe, rich, smooth & shining integration. The fruits bright, somewhat candied, floral & showing shades of stewed. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate juice, slightly dry cranberries, raspberries with singing purple & blue fruits as it sets. Some dark, rich, dark forest floor with dry leaves & twigs w/ tree sap, vanillin, nutmeg, cinnamon, dark spices, notes of dry herbaceousness - bay leaf, sage & marjoram, black licorice, mixed berry cola, powdery limestone & dry rocks, just a hint of pepper, grilled, savory meats, fresh tobacco leaves, red, blue, dark flowers laid in a field of violets. The acidity is like a spring shower. The finish is rich, ruby, well knitted & balanced with length & polish for days.

Its subtle knock, a touch hot at the beginning with it fading in the second glass.

The 02 is singing with another 3-5 years of good drinking ahead. It’s new world with Burgundy threads.

For me, this WS Pinot Noir is seriously peaking. Best bottle of the 02 WS Sonoma Coast I have enjoyed over the 12-15 bottles I’ve had.

I stole these amazing bottles. Thank you universe. — 10 hours ago

"Odedi"

9.0

This is a very nice and easy drinking Pinot Noir from Carneros.

Showing red and black fruits with oak, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate, soft and smooth. Fruit forward and fresh.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. I gave it a light chill and paired it with light appetizers.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 3 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Ribcap warm up wine.

First well aged TRB Rivers Marie. When you understand that TRB wines are a long hold, its not much of stretch to know it is can be a easy guess as who made this wine. Especially, after nine years in bottle.

The extraction level is all TRB. It’s not Belle Glos Cabernet/Pinot Noir but not Ferren or Williams Selyem. In between & closer to WS. Dark, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, dark cherries, raspberries, overtones of blue fruits, smoked meats, incense, dark spice with heat, alcohol fume, stones, dry crushed limestone, dry twigs, menthol, eucalyptus, mint, fresh; dark, red, blue flowers laid in a field of violets. Acidity is like a rain shower with balance & polish for days.

For my palate, this still needs time. Although, it very approachable for most. — 13 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Smith Devereux Winery M Vino Rosé 2020, Russian River Valley, California

A very pretty color of light salmon with a peach hue.

Fruity nose of sweet raspberries, limes, red apples, melons, flowers, red candy, rose pedals, earth and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity, crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, strawberries, limes, grapefruits, bitter herbs, earth and light vegetables.

Nice tangy finish with limes and almonds.

This is a very tasty Rosé from Russian River Valley. Smooth and nicely balanced. Elegant with pretty legs.

This Single Vineyard is showing a great mouthfeel with nice acidity. Really enjoyed the nose.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself. A great party wine that everyone would love.

100% Pinot Noir grapes. A very small production of only 125 cases.

13.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$36. — 6 days ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Pop and pour. A fantastic medium dark crimson color. On the nose: intense savory notes of wet forest floor, crushed rocks, dark cherry, slight cooked meat, smoke, and dried herbs. Taste: smooth, creamy, full body wine with mouth coating minerals, orange peel, cherry-raspberry, and a spiced tea dry medium plus finish with a very slight tannic kick. Ready to go a number of more years. YUM! — 13 hours ago

with Brenda

Ron R

9.4

The label was soiled when I received the order. I was immediately concerned regarding the contents. Happily, the wine was in pristine nick. Forest floor and cinnamon nose transitioned to the signature gnarly, textured dark fruit, smoke, and spice box presentation. I’m going to hold some of these Astons and see what happens. Intro’d to this by @Bill Bender, this has become my fave Cali pinot. Every vintage comes correct. — 7 days ago

with Anne-marie

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Pale lemon with aromas of stone fruits, blossom and yeasty notes, fine creamy mousse and tiny rapid bubble flow, full-bodied, ripe apple and pear on the palate, citrus and some spice, nice acidity, well balanced ending with toasty mineral notes. Nice! — 3 days ago

Shay A

9.3

Even though I’m a big fan of Ferren’s Frei Rd Chardonnay, this was my first Frei Rd Pinot.

Not sure of normal experiences here, but the richness here seems to fall in between Rivers Marie (love) and Aubert (just so so for me). Darker color in the glass…bit of a purple tinge to it. Aromatically it sports potpourri, violets, underripe black cherries, underripe blue fruit and some cedar. Initially, the front palate seems like it will be heavy based on all of the flavors but it turns really elegant. Dark chocolate, a slight roasted character, and spicy fruits. With RM, I get that orange zest note, and with Aubert, I get more alcohol and kirsch. My in between note here is more ripe pomegranate than either of the others. These probably need 5-7yrs from vintage to be in a good spot. Followed over two days and stayed consistent. — 6 days ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

The only pinot I’ve ever had from Paso Robles, Jack Creek culled out a vineyard in the Templeton Gap that brings in enough cool air at night to make pinot work in a place you’d otherwise would never think should produce pinot. This one has some age on it but is still drinking really well (as opposed to the regular bottling which has lost a fair bit of steam). — 5 days ago

with Vanessa

Shay A

9.2

My last of these. I experienced a bit of bottle variation with mine, some showing extremely fresh and others not so much. I’m a fan of Michael Cruse and enjoy his Ultramarine sparklers, and while it’s hard to compare UM to this, there are similarities and these are really delicious, especially for the money. This has a grower champagne like profile to it.

2017 base (released spring 2020), zero dosage. My first experience with this was during the dosage trial last year. Lots of fun to taste this wine at different levels. On previous bottles, it never came across as zero dosage, yet this final bottle had a pronounced carmex-like aromatic I get with many zero dosage sparklers. Oxidized aromatics and notes on the palate. This is apple everything...browned golden delicious apple, Apple strudel, apple spice. Mid palate is fairly rich with limestone, floral nuances, and a tart finish. Mousse here has died down some and the profile has become more vinous. I’d enjoy these sooner rather than later to capture the freshness. — 10 days ago