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.
Sourced from Bucher, Falstaff, Laguna, Foss and Hallberg vineyards.
Crimson in color. 13.8% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, cloves, cola and forest floor. Medium body with medium acidity. Packed with rich, dark, earthy fruits. Black cherry, black raspberry, baking spices and earth on the palate. The finish is long and supple. The best Sonoma County in recent memory. Best over the next 3-4 years.
My rating: 93 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended. The 2022 version of this wine will be released next Spring and be priced around $45.
I wrote about Williams Selyem previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2020 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.