2012 Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir [WE96][CG94][BH93][V92]

Producer: Williams Selyem Winery  
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California 
Varietal: Pinot Noir  
Year: 2012  

Wine Enthusiast, 96 Points 

"A perennial standout for good reason, this Pinot is light in color and elusive at first. Teasing in baked strawberry-rhubarb, it subtly offers a rare purity of focused fruit flavor, with gorgeous aromas of dewy rose petals playing a substantial supporting role. Thanks to subtle oak, the finish builds in terms of intensity, with the wine maintaining a delicate balance of minerality. *Editors' Choice*" 

Connoisseurs Guide, 94 Points 

"The differences among the top Williams Selyem Pinots are in general fairly small ones, but the world of small differences is arguably nowhere more evident that when comparing the winery's best bottlings. In this case, the wine is marked by a little more ripeness and underlying succulence even as it fixes on very pure Westside Road fruit, and it comes with implicit impressions of layering despite being relatively accessible now. It is in all ways a complete and delicious wine, and, whether held or enjoyed soon, it demonstrates everything that is right with fine Russian River Valley Pinot. *Two Stars*" 

Burghound, 93 Points 

"An elegant, beautifully complex and spicy nose of blue pinot fruit, violet and exotic tea aromas introduces delicious, opulent and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive mouth feel. There is good volume to the mid-palate that carries over to the clean, balanced and equally complex finish. This is lovely juice and while it's not as complex as it eventually will be, the underlying material is clearly present to allow more to develop. *Outstanding*" 

Vinous, 92 Points 

"Bright, dark red. Dark fruit aromas of blueberry, black raspberry and black cherry are complicated by notes of sassafras and clove. Nicely concentrated, juicy and delineated, with morello cherry and spice flavors leavened by savory soil tones. With its firm spine of acidity and building tannins, this rich but not particularly fleshy wine will need a few more years in bottle to harmonize. Not a hugely fruit-driven wine but more so than the '11. Long on the aftertaste but is it sappy enough to retain its fruit until the tannins are absorbed? Mangahas described 2012 as "an easygoing vintage from the first in a series of drought years, but without serious heat spikes." He picked early, with an above-average crop load of about 2.5 tons per acre." 

Alcohol: 14.1% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.