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.
Ferrington Vineyard is situated in the Anderson Valley and farmed by Kurt Schoeneman has been growing Pinot Noir for Williams Selyem since 1997.
Light red in color. 14.3% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, forest floor and baking spices. Medium body with plenty of acidity. Lush and elegant with layers of rich fruit. Cranberry, cherry cola, rhubarb and minerals on the palate. The finish is very long with sappy fruits and caressing tannins. Absolutely gorgeous Anderson Valley Pinot Noir that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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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