Williams Selyem Martaella Pinot Noir
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The inaugural release of the Martaella Vineyard Pinot Noir showcases the best of the Santa Rosa Plain area of the Russian River Valley.
- Planted on clay loam soils with volcanic and sedimentary elements.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Barrel aged 15 months, 60% new, 40% 1 yr-old barrels.
Tasting Notes: Perfumed with red and purple flowers, the fruit elements combine to showcase an explosively aromatic wine. The wine highlights a lush tannin profile with cool, aromatic fruit undertones. This wine is juicy and refreshing on the palate, with a harmonious and impeccable finish that closes with a sensation of black tea.
PRESS
2021 – 96 Jeb Dunnuck | 95 Wine Advocate | 94 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.