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 of Mendocino County and has been a source for Williams Selyem since 1999.
Ruby red in color. 13.9% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, cloves and forest floor. Medium body with tremendous acidity and minerality. Light and extremely elegant. Bing cherries, wild strawberries, mushrooms and earth on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and silky. Stunning Pinot Noir that is notable for both its finesse and charm. Best 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. The Weir Vineyard bottling should not be overlooked on the next vineyard designate offering.
I wrote about Williams Selyem previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2018 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.