Williams Selyem

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

9.2716 ratings
9.1142 pro ratings
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Sipping Fine Wine

Medium Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits with notes of dried herbs, citrus and woody spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cranberry and cherry with espresso, vanilla and herb tea spice, well balanced with acidity. Fine soft tannins on a long finish ending with cacao, spices and slight earthy character. Very nice!

Medium Ruby color with aromas of berry fruits with notes of dried herbs, citrus and woody spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cranberry and cherry with espresso, vanilla and herb tea spice, well balanced with acidity. Fine soft tannins on a long finish ending with cacao, spices and slight earthy character. Very nice!

Dec 31st, 2023
Eric Urbani

A tasting of nine 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinots. I found this to be quite fruity but not in a bad way. Group’s #3.

A tasting of nine 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinots. I found this to be quite fruity but not in a bad way. Group’s #3.

Jul 20th, 2021
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

17 years in bottle & it is in perfect form. Excellent with vinaigrette salad w/ caramelized walnuts & dried dark cherries.

17 years in bottle & it is in perfect form. Excellent with vinaigrette salad w/ caramelized walnuts & dried dark cherries.

Jun 19th, 2021
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.

Definitely pushing 94. I stole these amazing bottles. Thank you universe.

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.

Definitely pushing 94. I stole these amazing bottles. Thank you universe.

Jun 12th, 2021
Rick Lopus

Shockingly good.

Shockingly good.

Jun 12th, 2021
Tobin Trevarthen

Never a doubt. Selyem always delivers. Lush strawberry shortcake dominates the flavors.

Never a doubt. Selyem always delivers. Lush strawberry shortcake dominates the flavors.

Apr 26th, 2021
boyd

Really polished, but also quite delicious.

Really polished, but also quite delicious.

Apr 3rd, 2021
Eric Urbani

Delicate, elegant some raisin - we thought it was a Kutch or Rhys

Delicate, elegant some raisin - we thought it was a Kutch or Rhys

Mar 7th, 2021
Kirsten Spalding

Drunk review 3: Wine number three of the night. It has a silky, olive oil-like quality to it. Like, when you attempt to taste olive oil the professional way, but you have no idea what you're doing, so you feel it burn at the back of your throat-- but it's also not unpleasant? Medium boldness. It's your friend at a party that is quiet and shy in real life, but then is surprisingly outgoing when drinking and you're like, "Damn. And I thought I was taking you out." Earthy notes, like herbs just taken out of the dirt in the middle of fall. I would pair this while petting a Golden Retriever. It's good.

Drunk review 3: Wine number three of the night. It has a silky, olive oil-like quality to it. Like, when you attempt to taste olive oil the professional way, but you have no idea what you're doing, so you feel it burn at the back of your throat-- but it's also not unpleasant? Medium boldness. It's your friend at a party that is quiet and shy in real life, but then is surprisingly outgoing when drinking and you're like, "Damn. And I thought I was taking you out." Earthy notes, like herbs just taken out of the dirt in the middle of fall. I would pair this while petting a Golden Retriever. It's good.

Feb 13th, 2021
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Salad just needs the dry, dark cherries to make the pair.

Previous notes from awhile back will work.

Enjoying the 12 but, will be much better in four to six years.

Getting dried apricots from this after Bordeaux & Napa Cabernet. 🤔

Salad just needs the dry, dark cherries to make the pair.

Previous notes from awhile back will work.

Enjoying the 12 but, will be much better in four to six years.

Getting dried apricots from this after Bordeaux & Napa Cabernet. 🤔

Dec 5th, 2020