The 2016 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard was the winning bottle in the November installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I did not decant the wine and it was served with a New York strip and roasted Brussels sprouts.
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.
Ferrington Vineyard, one of California’s most acclaimed Pinot Noir Vineyards, sells to many wineries and is tucked away just off Highway 128 in Booneville, a small town in the heart of the Anderson Valley. The vines date back to the 1970’s.
Dark crimson in color. 13.7% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red and blue fruits, Christmas spices and forest floor. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity. Packed with lush, earthy fruits. Cherry, cranberry, orange rind and earth on the palate. The finish is long and silky. Great Pinot Noir that is and interesting contrast when compared to the Russian River Valley Pinots from Williams Selyem. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 95 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 Fall.
I wrote about Williams Selyem previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley