The 2015 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors was the winning bottle in the June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle. I did not decant the wine and paired it with grilled chicken and a fresh salad.
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.
The Faiveley family, who have been making wine in France’s Burgundy region for seven generations, now own a majority stake in Williams Selyem. Jeff Mangahas is the Winemaker.
Eastside Road Neighbors is sourced from a number of vineyards situated on Eastside Road including Foss and Calegari.
Crimson in color. 13.6% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, cloves and forest floor. Medium body with perfect acidity. Light and earthy with elegant fruits. Cherry, cranberry, baking spices and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. With lush, rich fruits and a sense of timelessness almost ten years from vintage this wine captures everything I love about Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. 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 2022 version of this wine will be released next Spring and should be priced around $75.