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 Martaella, Laguna, Olivet Lane, MacGregor Estate and Drake Estate vineyards.
Bright crimson in color. 13.7% ABV. Beautiful nose of red fruits, cloves, baking spices and rose petals. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Bursting with lush earthy fruits. Cherry, strawberry, cranberry and earth on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Just an outstanding appellation Pinot Noir that only bodes good things for the Williams Selyem RRV single vineyard wines from this vintage. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended. The 2024 version of this wine will be released next Spring and priced around $60.