Scoring 17 points on the Dionysian 20-point scale, with 14.1% alcohol, and costing under $24, the 2013 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, was peaking at seven years old. It would hold for another five years easily. Filled with dark cherry, smoky oak, and spices lingering on its finish, the wine was Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled by Williams Selyem.

It’s a great food wine and wasn’t laced with some Zinfandel like too many other dark colored California Pinot Noirs.

Served with a chicken dish and loads of vegetables. It didn’t need decanting and continued to open up for another half hour in each glass. Glad I sampled it now instead of waiting as long as I do with French Burgundy (Pinot Noir) This is an excellent producer of Pinot Noir. In Vino Veritas.