Reviews & Awards

Williams Selyem Offshoot Tasting

Rusty, who writes the PinotFile (one of the very best on-line wine newsletters), organized a tasting of Williams Selyem “offshoots” on January 28 in Sebastopol. This was defined as current wines from Williams Selyem along with wines made by other family members and those who had worked and trained there. The purpose was to see if there was any “family” similarity in the group. Rusty was also kind enough to include our newly released 2003 Copeland Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir in the tasting. I really enjoyed the event and ran across this account of the tasting by noted Pinot freak, Jamie Kutch. With his permission, we present his ratings.

– Don, April 2006

Vinfolio rating: 92 points. “Don Baumhefner has been making Pinot Noir for many years, cutting his teeth at Joseph Swan in the early days. His style is no nonsense, straight forward quality wines that offer excellent value. Copeland Creek are all estate grown. The nose is a robust combination of roasted cherry, raspberry and spice. The palate shows somewhat unexpectedly elegant licorice, herb and red cherry flavors. Drink: 2006-2010.”

(Vinfolio, THE WILDER SIDE OF CALIFORNIA wine review, Doug Wilder, Issue 65)

“Subtle pomegranate on the nose, with black cherry on the mid palate and finish. The newly popularized “#777” and “#828” Dijon clones of Pinot Noir give Copeland Creek’s Pinot Noir its floral high notes, which is, like most of Copeland Creek’s wines, far more Burgundian in character than its Carneros or Oregonian counterparts.”

(Bottlenotes)

“...the Copeland Creek Vineyards Sonoma Coast 2003 Pinot Noir (13.5% alcohol) is very good with strong berry and moderate spice, a pleasant nose and a lingering finish. Well worth seeking out.”

(Carter Lusher, Food Notebook (article link), July 1, 2006)

“This Pinot is more akin to one from the Russian River Valley than the Sonoma Coast. A lovely perfume of cherries, musk, vanilla and oak (I would like to put some behind my ear and cuddle up to my wife). Supersized dose of Bing cherries and a touch of exotic wood and spice on the finish. Perfectly balanced. A righteous wine with plenty of spunk.”

(PinotFile, Vol 5/Issue 40, June 19, 2006)

93 points. “Medium ruby purple color; deep and spicy with black cherry and cinnamon aromas; rich, lush black cherry, spice and some sweet oak; good structure and balance; lingering finish. Another elegant and yet very flavorful Pinot from Copeland Creek—great for a wide variety of foods.”

(Pinot Report, Issue #37, April 28, 2006)

“Signature cool-climate Pinot, exhibiting notes of bing cherry and raspberries, with a hint of creamy root beer float. The luscious aromas entice, while the strong acidity is carefully balanced with subtle tannins, allowing the pure fruit flavors to shine.”

(From Wineguys Certified “Taste of COPIA” Artisan Wineries wine list
April 2006)

“Don Baumhefner uses his years of experience in the wine industry including over ten years at Joseph Swan Vineyards to farm his Sonoma Coast vineyard planted to Dijon clones 114, 115, 777 and 828 and the legendary Swan clone. He crafts a beautiful table wine that would be a welcome staple in anyone's dining room. The most distinctive feature of his Pinot Noir is oodles of spice...”

(PinotFile, Vol 5/Issue 27, March 14, 2006)

PinotFile placed our 2002 Pinot Noir on their ‘First Team “All-Americans” 2005’ list—the best 11 American made Pinot Noirs out of over 800 tasted in 2005.

(PinotFile, Vol 5/Issue 16, December 20, 2005)

Rated 92. “Medium ruby purple color; deep, spicy with lots of red cherry and pepper aromas; rich plum and cherry flavors with spice and pepper notes, sweet oak, lingering finish. A very nicely balanced and elegant Pinot from the cool-climate Petaluma Gap area of the Sonoma Coast appellation.”

(The Pinot Report, Issue #34, December 2005)

Rated Exceptional. “Classy aroma of herbs (like wild thyme), dried cherry and superb complexity with fruit like a classic Volnay. A great new wine from a long-time Sonoma County wine maker ... ”

(Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences, November 2005)

Awarded a Gold Medal at the 2005 Sonoma County Harvest Fair.

(October 2005)

“This Pinot is great when you pull the cork and equally fine an hour or two later (always a sign of quality and balance). The wine has all of the features that we have come to associate with Pinot Noir but it is the magic Chambolle-like spice in the aftertaste that is so appealing to me. I have never tasted anything quite like it from California.”

(PinotFile, August 2005)

“I really like his (Don's) delicate style of Pinot Noir. The 2002 is a winner—a wine of great finesse and charm with a mid-palate explosion of spice that goes on and on.”

(PinotFile, April 2005)

Rated 91. “Aromas of earthly black cherry, rasberry and spice. Velvetly, smokey, dark fruit flavors with a long finish.”

(Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter, January 2005)

Rated 93. Highest Ranking Pinot in “The California-Australia Wine Shoot-Out.”
“Cranberry and cassis with a tarry undertone greet you evolving into bright cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavors on entry through mid-palate when plum, cassis, and baking spice are added and all extend to the long finish with rounded tannins and a semi-silky mouthfeel. The oak is nicely balanced allowing the fruit to really stand out.”

(Affairs of the Vine, November 2004)

“This pinot noir is elegant and refined, not overblown (alcohol is 13.3%). In a blind tasting, Volnaysians would have a hard time picking this one out from their own. A nice impression of luxury for a young-vines pinot noir. Don says the 2002 and 2003 are even better, but I was quite happy with the 2001. The wine is on the list at Chez Panisse, and served by the glass at the Zuni Cafe and Plumpjack Cafe—enough said.”

(PinotFile, July 2004)

Rated 91. “Medium-deep ruby purple color; deep spice, berry and cherry notes on nose; nice cherry and berry fruit with spicy notes and a nice dose of sweet oak, very nice structure and balance. Great new release and first wine I've seen from Copeland Creek. Winemaker Don Baumhefner has a real winner here—a tasty Pinot that really opens up with some time in the glass.”

(The Pinot Report, July 2003)