Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard is nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley on Westside Road.
- With an opportunity to plant to their exact specifications, clones of Pommard, Swan, Calera, and Mt. Eden (UCD 37) were selected.
- The vines are positioned northeast to southwest to allow for even exposure to the summer sun.
- In 2009, the Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded the 2007 Litton Estate (The Estate’s former name) Pinot Noir a perfect 100 points.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Barrel aged 16 months, 61% new, 39% 1 yr-old barrels.
Tasting Notes: Perfumed and delicate on the nose, the wine showcases raspberry and black cherry notes with hints of cedar and sarsaparilla. Wood spices such as nutmeg and allspice perfectly complement the comforting and rich aromatic profile. The aromas carry over to the palate with firm tannins and balanced acidity. There is a brilliant aromatic lift on the mid-palate with flowers and citrus, giving way to a crushed quartz-like finish. Give this a little time in the cellar to reach its full potential.
PRESS
2019 – 99 Wine Enthusiast | 95 James Suckling | 95 Wine Enthusiast | 95 Jeb Dunnuck | 92 Wine Spectator
2020 – 97 Wine Enthusiast | 93 Wine Advocate
2021 – 95 James Suckling
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.