2008 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Eastside Road Neighbors

2008 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Eastside Road Neighbors

Thus far, we’ve enjoyed this Eastside Road Neighbors best of all the 2008 Williams Selyem wines that we’ve tasted at home. Blended from several vineyards along Eastside Road in the Russian River Valley, this is also our first blended pinot from WS.

Their website gives a lot of technical info, their taste impressions and Wine Spectator’s score (94 if you’re interested. I think that’s an incredible rating for the magazine, as they tend to be cheap with big numbers for pinot, devoting all their most lavish praise to Napa cabernets. Maybe it is just me thinking that? Personally, I believe that the magazine would improve if the professional tasters focused more on particular varieties of grape rather than region. That way, you’d really see how various wines fare throughout the world. Wine shopping would become less challenging and, hopefully, less devastating.)

The ERN is a transparent cherry red with bright red fruit, especially raspberry and cherry, and hints of forest floor, mushrooms and nail polish on the nose. This is smooth going, full of red berries, cherry lollipop, tobacco, tar, chocolate, caramel with a lingering peppery finish. Good juice!