2008 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Similar in color but lighter in hue, the medium ruby-colored 2008 Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard has high acid, tart red currants, pomegranate, and hints of cranberries and sour cherries. It is a medium to full-bodied, tart style of Pinot Noir that lacks generosity but is pleasant, and acid freaks will adore it. With thirteen separate Pinot Noirs, Williams-Selyem has something for just about everybody. Eight of these Pinot Noirs hail from relatively well-known sites in the Russian River and three come from the Sonoma Coast, while the two outliers are the Weir Vineyard from Yorkville Highlands and the Ferrington Vineyard from the Anderson Valley. Three well-regarded vineyards of the Sonoma Coast comprise part of this impressive Pinot Noir portfolio from Williams-Selyem. With eight Russian River bottlings, the two with the largest availability are the Eastside Road Neighbors and Westside Road Neighbors, which are blends from different fruit sources. The most underrated wines in the entire portfolio are the Zinfandels that come from winemaker Bob Cabrol. Tel. (707) 433-6425; Fax (707) 433-6546
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep red. Sexy aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cola, minerals and incense. Wonderfully precise and vibrant, with terrific cut to its intense flavors of red berry preserves and candied rose. Still youthfully tight and bound-up but gains flesh with air. Slightly rounder on the back end, finishing with excellent grip and chewy persistence. This could use some bottle age.
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.