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.
The Pinot Noir for this blend was sourced from the Bucher, Drake Estate, Lone Oak and the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyards.
Crimson in color. 13.6% ABV. Riveting nose of red fruits, cloves, sarsaparilla and wet forest floor. Medium body with tremendous acidity. Fresh, sappy and well balanced. Cherries, strawberries, cola and earth on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Brilliant showing for a nine year old appellation wine. Bodes well for the single vineyard designates. Drink over the next 1-2 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 previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2017 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.