Williams Selyem Winery began when Ed Selyem and Burt Williams started making wine as a hobby in 1979 in Forestville, California. Their first commercial release was in 1981. In less than two decades, Burt and Ed created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Setting a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking, they put Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley at the forefront of the best Pinot Noir regions in the world.
Today, John and Kathe Dyson, who purchased the winery from Burt and Ed in 1998, work with winemaker Bob Cabral to carry on the passion for Pinot Noir without compromise.
Ferrington Vineyard is located in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. The 70 acres of rich valley floor were planted with clones brought back from Burgundy. Five clones including Pommard, 115, 777 and 667 of Pinot Noir comprise about 27 acres of this vineyard.
Garnet in color. Cinnamon, sassafras and forest floor on the nose. Strawberry, cranberry, cola, spice, truffles and rhubarb on the palate. A delicate wine with just a touch of acidity. At twelve years of age this this wine is exhibit one for the ageability of Bob Cabral’s Pinots. Perhaps this wine was more fruit forward a few years ago but it is hard not to appreciate how it still delivers like some of the Williams Selyem made back in the day by Burt. Nicely done!
My rating: 92 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended. The current vintage of this wine is $65 off the mailing list.
I’ve blogged about Williams Selyem previously in Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings
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