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, and in less than two decades they 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 Jeff Mangahas to carry on the passion for Pinot Noir without compromise. Other varieties bottled at Williams Selyem include Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Chenin Blanc.
Peay Vineyard is situated near the San Andreas Fault at the Northern edge of the Sonoma Coast AVA.
Light crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. Big nose of red fruits, rose petals and cloves. Light to medium body with surprisingly strong acidity. Black cherry, baking spices, mushroom and cherry cordial on the palate. Super finish that belies the 12 years of bottle age. Delicious Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
My rating: 93 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended.
I wrote about Williams Selyem recently in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2015 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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