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.
Peay Vineyard is situated near the San Andreas Fault at the Northern edge of the Sonoma Coast AVA.
Light red in color. Almost translucent. 14.2% ABV. Spellbinding nose of red fruits, orange zest and sassafras. Light and airy with striking acidity. Delicate but somewhat racy. Cherries, cola, rhubarb and Asian spices on the palate. The finish lingers. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 91 points.
Williams Selyem can periodically be found at retail, but the mailing list is highly recommended. The Peay Vineyard bottling was discontinued after the 2012 vintage.
I wrote about Williams Selyem previously in Reflections on Two Days in Russian River Valley and The 2016 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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