Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Williams Selyem – Pinot Noir – 2023
Drake Estate Vineyard – Russian River Valley – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A beautifully refined and expressive Pinot Noir sourced from the renowned Drake Estate Vineyard, one of the crown jewels of the Russian River Valley. The 2023 vintage highlights Williams Selyem’s signature delicacy and precision: pure fruit, lifted aromatics, and a seamless texture that defines top-tier RRV Pinot.

Aromas & Flavors
Red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry accented by rose petal, orange zest, and light baking spice. Subtle forest floor, tea leaf, and vanilla whisper in the background. Elegant, layered, and aromatically captivating.

Mouthfeel
Silky, smooth, and wonderfully balanced. Medium-bodied with bright natural acidity, fine tannins, and a graceful, mouthwatering finish. A perfect interplay of delicacy and depth.

Food Pairings
Duck breast, truffle risotto, cedar-plank salmon, roasted mushrooms, or creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

Verdict
A lovely masterpiece from Drake Estate Vineyard, delicate, smooth, and utterly delicious. This is quintessential Russian River Valley Pinot at its most graceful and refined. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Drake Estate Vineyard sits along the Russian River’s cooling corridor, where fog rolls in daily. This extended hang time allows for exceptional fruit purity and aromatic intensity, one reason it’s one of Williams Selyem’s most prized vineyard sources. — 11 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Smoky with brief notes from me. Not as peaty as you would expect from the western isles. Had a tour of this distillery some years ago on the Isle of Skye which is the spiritual home of the Clan Donald ie McDonald. Probably prefer the peaty styles of Lagavulin and Laphroig. — 3 years ago

Madi Ham

9.6

Great DOC Italian Pinot Grigio. On the dry side, very nice!

Consumed with shrimp scampi with the Gordon clan — 5 years ago

JKT

9.0

At Sunday clan get together 8/10/25. Thought was dry but not so, excellent classic Mosel profile but too sweet for the youngsters! — 4 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

This wine is really delightful. It has a nice softness and elegance to it. No overpowering oak. Smooth flavors that just complement the food.

Finally a WS chard without pre-ox — 6 months ago

J

9.0

Enjoyed this wine. It is light in color and very tasty. Could be served with almost any meal. — 5 years ago

JKT

9.1

At Sunday clan get together 8/10/25. Want popular and brought home. A mountain stony acidic group that makes this a terrific white for a variety of food pairing. Too bad no more. — 4 months ago

Barry Shailes

9.9

Had this at Le Clan, Quebec City. — 3 years ago

Daniel Dver

9.3

So nice. With Daniels clan — 3 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.5

I cannot believe how good this wine is. Was down in the cellar looking for a white. Saw this was a 2011 and figured we needed to drink this soon (if it wasn’t already past peak). Unbelievable. Easily mistaken for a top-end Aubert, this had incredible depth of flavor, complexity, and a finish that went on and on. Without question the best chardonnay I’ve had from the Pisoni clan, this was a fantastic surprise. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa