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.
Weir Vineyard is located in the Yorkville Highlands in Mendocino County and has been a grape source for Williams Selyem since 1999.
Light crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. Soaring nose of red fruits, cloves, anise and wet forest floor. Medium body with just enough acidity. Light and lithe on the palate. Almost Burgundian. Flavors of cherry cola, black cherries, mushrooms and baking spices. Clearly ready to drink if not a little past it’s prime.
My rating: 90 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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