Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Williams Selyem – Pinot Noir – Vintage 2023
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A benchmark Pinot Noir from one of California’s most iconic producers. Only 656 cases crafted, this 2023 vintage beautifully captures the Russian River Valley’s signature elegance and vibrancy. It’s a wine that balances precision and grace, proof that fine, age-worthy Pinot is alive and thriving in Sonoma.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherries, wild raspberries, and pomegranate glide alongside hints of rose petal, orange zest, and forest floor. Subtle spice and oak tones weave seamlessly into the fruit, creating layers of depth and charm.

Mouthfeel
Silky, balanced, and pure. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and ultra-fine tannins that give it both structure and lift. The wine literally dances on the palate, finishing long and elegant with a whisper of red fruit and spice.

Food Pairings
Perfect alongside duck confit, herb-crusted salmon, mushroom risotto, or roasted poultry with truffle butter.

Verdict
A polished and expressive Pinot Noir that speaks of place and precision. Williams Selyem continues to set the gold standard for Russian River Valley finesse, delivering both immediacy and cellar potential.

Did You Know?
Williams Selyem was among the pioneers of single-vineyard Pinot Noir in California. Their minimalist approach, native yeasts, gentle extraction, and minimal filtration, has influenced generations of winemakers aiming for purity of terroir. — 7 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Great vintage for this wine with lots of red cherry, strawberry fruit, earth, spice & floral — 6 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — a month ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

While not showing its best, it’s always a special and humbling experience to drink DRC! A little advanced, but still showing complex stemmy aromatics with cola and Asian spices. Great with the dry-aged duck but not necessarily memorable on its own outside the label. — 6 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Ruby core still , quite wide garnet rim . Still quite young looking . This is quite exotic at first with some Asian spice , rose water , floral hints and after a while red cherries , red currant and blackberry . On the palate this has more of the darker fruits , dark cherry , blackberry with some spicy , wet slate and , lightly herbal , tobacco notes . Fresh acidity and fine but noticable tannins . Quite long and detailed , saline with spiced tea tinged finish . Quite reserved and understated but enough fruit and mid palate to cover the structure . This is drinking well now with time in the glass , and will continue at this level for another 10 years or so . So exotic and enticing on the nose , and with great poise and freshness on the palate, really great showing. — a month ago

Eric Grasser

9.3

Took awhile to open up but turned out to be a stunner. Nose of fresh violets with explosive Kirsch, dark raspberry and sandalwood flavors. Mouthfeel is tantalizing, smooth and well balanced. Racy acidity, fine tannins and long finish. Really exceptional for an appellation wine. — 10 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Pretty color of ruby with medium intensity and a light brick rim.

Pretty nose of red fruits with wild flowers and light forest floor notes.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with sweet cherries, cooked plums, light oak, mushrooms, spices, chocolates, earth and herbs.

Long finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Pinot Noir from Oregon. Elegant and nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Burgundy in style, and I really enjoyed smelling it for a long while.

This 19 year old Pinot Noir is still drinking beautifully. Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Wine Spectator 92 points. Wine Advocate 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime.

Balanced and easy drinking. Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.

A blend of Pinot Noir grapes from all of the Single Vineyards of the estate. Aged in 100% New French oak barrels for 16 months. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 16 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium ruby garnet with a quite wide garnet rim . Quite explosive from the off with spicy , stemmy violet , smoky darker fruits, touch of cassis with some dark cherry , and allspice. On the palate this again shows quite exotic fruit , mix of red and dark , dry spices with smoky violets . This has quite a generous mouthfeel with some noticable tannin still and balanced acidity . Quite long and mineral tinged on the palate , with smoky , cherry , black tea finish . Still pretty young and fruit driven , balanced alcohol and ripe tannin. Probably better in 5 - 10 years and will last well a further 10. — a month ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.3

With the stone crab killing field in the background. — 2 days ago

Alan Weinberg

9.0

Not amazing, a bit closed, some drying tannins. — 11 days ago