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 four unique sites along Eastside Road: Foss Vineyard, Calegari Vineyard, Black Rose Vineyard and Lone Oak Vineyard.
Light crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Charming nose of red fruits, cloves, forest floor and flowers. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Rich and earthy with lush upfront fruits. Cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Stunning Pinot Noir that is shining at 12 years of age. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended. The 2020 version of this wine was released a few weeks ago.
I wrote about Williams Selyem previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2020 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.