2013 Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., pH 3.56, TA 0.64, $82. Released fall 2015. Aged 16 months in French oak barrels, 64% new and 36% 1-year-old. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. An array of inviting aromas include strawberry, cherry, raspberry, cardamom spice, and sweet smoke. On the palate, oak plays too great a role currently for me to thoroughly enjoy the wine. Mid weight fruit flavors of black cherry, spice and earthiness are dominated by oak-driven notes of toast and smoke. The wine finishes with a slightly tart (? acid addition), cherry-driven note. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle the luscious fruit was more expressive and the oak overlay had lessened a bit. Best to cellar this wine for another year or two. Score: 90. Reviewed January 17, 2016

Winery: Williams Selyem
From article: Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir