WTN 1999 Williams Selyem Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast

[Nevan]

1999 Williams Selyem Pinot noir, Sonoma Coast (California)

Light rose petal red color. Initial big musty/gamey/leathery aromas gave rise to question if the wine was corked. Consensus on smell alone was no (and that was from the winemakers in the group), rather that there was some not-unpleasant brett in the wine. In the mouth the wine was thick, velvety, full of ripe red boysenberry fruit—much richer and more pleasing than the nose led us to believe: an organoleptic conundrum!?

(Next morning the funky aroma was completely gone, replaced with a tart dried cherry and roasted meat smell. The flavors were, if anything, sweeter and deeper, with an added creaminess and “aged pinot” meatiness not seen at first blush. Note: Wine Spectator gave this wine an 88 and Stephen Tanzer gave it a 91.)