Williams Selyem Weir Vineyard Pinot Noir
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Year after year, the Weir Vineyard delivers a quality that is both unique and pure.
- It is located near Yorkville in Mendocino County.
- Fifteen acres are planted on a south-facing slope of a steep old sheep ranch. The elevation is just under 1,000 feet and the climate is classic warm days and cool nights.
- The Weir Vineyard is planted to Romanee-Conti, Wadenswil 2-A, Pommard, and Rochioli clones.
- The vines are cane pruned with vertical shoot positioning, and a plant density of 1,000 vines per acre.
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Elaboration: Barrel aged 16 months, 57% new, 43% 1 yr-old barrels.
Tasting Notes: Strawberry and red cherry notes permeate the nose in this delightful offering from the Weir Vineyard. Subtly floral on the nose, the wine gives way to fresh herbs that further add to the complex array of aromatics. Though polished and elegant, there is a sensation of crushed rocks and minerals that coat the palate. Flavors of red fruits are over-layed in the mid-palate and support the structure of this outstanding effort. Patience is a virtue with this wine, as the tannins need a few years to harmonize.
PRESS
2020 – 93 Wine Enthusiast
2019 – 92 Wine Enthusiast
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.