2012 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
(14.1% alcohol): 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.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From another Russian River site, the 2012 Pinot Noir Allen Vineyard is tart, crisp and medium-bodied with notes of dark cherries and pomegranate. This is a good Pinot Noir, but I do not see much difference between it and its siblings. Drink now-2022. Tel. (707) 433-6425
Brilliant ruby-red. Explosive aromas of red fruit liqueur, Asian spices, rose pastille and smoky minerals. Pure, incisive and subtly sweet, offering intense raspberry and cherry flavors and a jolt of peppery spices. The mineral note comes back emphatically on the powerful finish, which is shaped by supple, even tannins. This very suave and focused pinot displays a compelling blend of power and finesse.
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.