Williams Selyem Papera Vineyard Zinfandel 2017
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
In this offering, juicy boysenberry and blackberry aromas jump from the glass. Layered beneath the dark fruits are brighter red fruits that add a refreshing quality, while brambles and anise further augment the complexity of this wine. A fruit basket of flavors on the palate are balanced by hints of citrus and citrus peel. Even in its youth this wine shows great resolution of tannin. A pairing of braised lamb shanks would be an excellent choice.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine from a historic, old-vine site offers tones of candied cherry and ginger that are met by Christmas cake and baking spice. The palate is soft and silky in texture, with plenty of fresh, juicy acidity for balance.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Zinfandel Papera Vineyard is medium to deep ruby-purple with a nose of peach and blueberry pie, boysenberry jam, warm black fruits and floral perfume. Medium to full-bodied with concentrated warm fruits, it has firm, slightly chewy tannins with good freshness and a long, warm fruit finish.
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Williams Selyem Winery began as a simple dream of two friends, Ed Selyem and Burt Williams, who pursued weekend winemaking as a hobby in 1979 in a garage in Forestville, California, and made their first commercial vintage in 1981. In less than two decades, Burt and Ed created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Together they set a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking in the United States, aligning Sonoma County's Russian River Valley in the firmament of the best winegrowing regions of the world. Today John and Kathe Dyson, who purchased the winery from Burt and Ed in 1998, carry on the passion for Pinot Noir winemaking without compromise. As for the wines... they just keep getting better and better.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.