2004 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
(14.1% alcohol): Good medium red. Less exotic and more restrained on the nose than the '03 or '02 bottlings, hinting at black cherry and strawberry jam. Then totally different on the palate than the preceding three vintages, showing a darker fruit character and much less volatile acidity and exotic ripeness. Extractive but not hard, this classically dry, seriously structured, nicely perfumed wine finishes with excellent subtle length and may yet benefit from more time in bottle. Impressive.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
100 ft altitude between Willams Selyem and Rochioli. Thick and sweet. Dense. Candified. Sweet but dry on the finish. Rumbustious rather than refined. (JR)
The smell of wet stones, roasted herbs, tart cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, and strawberries come from the nose of the 2004 Pinot Noir Allen Vineyard. This is among the most acidic of these 2004s and seems attenuated because of that acid. Tel. (707) 433-6425; Fax (707) 433-6546
Quite complex nose with very marked acidity. I do wonder whether it will ever really get into balance – so tart is it at the moment. Very racy – you need the confidence of knowledge of the track record to be confident of this wine’s future. (JR)
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.