Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Amazing soil quality! The Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard is nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley on Westside Road just below the winery and adjacent to the Russian River.
- The vineyard is planted to 20 different clones of Chardonnay and shares a similar soil profile to the Allen Vineyard and Rochioli Riverblock.
- The vines are positioned northeast to southwest to allow for even exposure to the summer sun.
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Elaboration: Barrel aged 16 months, 31% new, 31% 1 yr., 23% 2 yr., 15% 3+ yr old barrels.
Tasting Notes: Bursting with notes of lemon blossom, white flowers and jasmine, the Williams Selyem Estate Chardonnay is extraordinary. Planted to a multitude of chardonnay clones, the aromatics are layered and complex. Hints of Meyer lemon and melon mix with tangerine to round out the nose. Oily and rich on the palate, the flavors range from yellow fruits to melon. A solid tannic structure offers excellent length and mid-palate breadth while finishing soft and subtle with notes of crushed minerals.
PRESS
2021 – 93 Wine Spectator
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Willams Selyem Winery was founded almost by accident. In the 1970s, a grower gave a few tons of free grapes to Burt Williams. He and his friend, Ed Selyem, decided to make their own wine – a Pinot Noir.
The partners only wanted to make wine for themselves but, as fate would have it, they were very good at it. Soon, their wine developed a cult-like following among those they shared it with. Ultimately, their experiment elevated Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley to among the best wine-growing regions in the world.
Once Burt and Ed decided to start a serious winery, they vowed to make handcrafted wines that would set the standard for excellence. Burt, a veteran newspaper pressman, made the first labels using an old letterpress and hand-mixed inks. Today, the philosophy at Williams Selyem is to respect the grapes. Their wine has been served at the White House and their 2007 Estate Pinot Noir was the first to score a perfect 100 in a major wine publication.