Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I may sound like a broken record but these cuvées from Williams Selyem don’t really produce magic until they have 10 years+ in bottle. Tonight this 2009 Sonoma Coast is magic w/ the grilled marinaded “Bulgogi Pork.”

The cork like a new bottling. Nothing running down the sides.

The wine glides magnificently onto the palate. It has another 7-10 yrs stored well.

It is wine candy w/o the heavy candy. Ripe & glorious. It rides the fence of good red burgundy & Ca Pinot.

The fruits are perfectly ripe; dark cherries, black raspberries, blackberries, cooked strawberries, plum w/ subtle blueberries. Mid Asian/Indian spices w/just a touch of of heat, mild baking spices led w/ clove, nutmeg, cinnamon that is near stick, vanillin, very lightly grilled meats, mid dry tobacco, steeped tea, dry herbs, very used leather, dry brush/twigs, far crushed rocks, crumpled limestone, red roses, dark/red just candied flowers framed in violets, grand acidity, balance, well knitted, nicely tensioned/structured elegant finish that goes on and on and lasts minutes falling on dry minerals & spices. — 6 days ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.1

Not as creamy as I remember from past vintages, but excellent fruit and balance. One of the best domestics. August 2025. — 6 days ago

Jerry Raphael

9.1

Notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and a touch of cedar and tobacco. I popped the cork and started drinking it kept on opening and getting better with air. At the BH. — 24 days ago

Edward Nelson

9.3

Wife pulled@from@cellar. Said she checked before opening and it was a $40 bottle. I enjoyed it very much. Been a minute for wine. Helped lube the wife up a bit. — 7 days ago

Benjamin Cadmus

9.2

Very special bottle with great colleagues — 8 days ago

John Willison

9.2

Stone fruit, oak, honeysuckle…banana? More fruit and oak than I usually drink. Still good. — 16 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1996 vintage. Last tasted 5.8.25 (9.5), 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). Decanted with some sed and tasted after an hour. Solid cork and fill. This was the worst showing of the last visits with less tannic structure and slightly more richness. Tasted a bit more like their "Au Paradis" offering. Not totally dissuaded from picking up another few bottles for enjoyment in the few 5 years or so tho. Three out of four bottles surveyed were fabulous and this wasn't a total swing and a miss. 07.18.25. — a month ago

Chance Miller

9.0

Left by a guest…. One of the best, ethereal, reminiscent of a Volnay 🍷 — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Pagani Ranch pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and red fruits: mixed bramble fruit, black cherry, black pepper, red flowers, tobacco, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Yum. — 2 months ago

Aaron Caiazza

8.9

Heavy hitting red. Lush. Nice. Smooth. Snack your face, red. — 25 days ago