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.
Allen Vineyard is situated on Westside Road in the Russian River Valley and was planted in 1970.
Gold in color. 14.4% ABV. Super nose of tropical fruits, lemon oil and butterscotch. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and balance. Rich and lush with great mouthfeel. Pear, peach, vanilla creme brulee and minerals on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Delicious Chardonnay. Don’t overlook the Williams Selyem Chardonnay program. Best over the next 1-2 years.
My rating: 91 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 2020 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.