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.
Feeney Vineyard was renamed Montafi Vineyard and dates back to 1926. Situated in the Russian River Valley the vineyard is mostly Zinfandel but does contain a healthy amount of Alicante Bouschet and Grand Noir de la Calmette. A little Petite Sirah is interspersed as well.
Magenta in color. 14.8% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, spiced plums and licorice. Medium to full bodied with plenty of acidity. Rich and plush with fantastic mouthfeel. Raspberry, blackberry, black cherry and baking spices on the palate. Everything is in balance and the tannins are resolved. The finish is perfect. Drink over the next year or so.
My rating: 92 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 2016 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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