Sonoma

Showing 13–24 of 27 results

Williams Selyem Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir 2019
£107.95
“Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors explodes with particularly pure aromas of blueberries, pomegranate, cinnamon and bergamot, with accents of mushrooms, tree bark and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate has a grainy frame, and bursts of fresh acidity highlight its spicy fruits, finishing with great length. It could use another 2-3 years in bottle to fully unfold. Drink: 2022-2032. 94 points
I visited Williams Selyem in the spring of 2022 to taste the 2019s with winemaker Jeff Mangahas. It’s an exceptional vintage for the Russian River Valley, where the typical power, black fruits and higher alcohol style gave way to more elegant, energetic and expressive wines. Mangahas recapped the season. “Compared to the 10-year average, bud break in 2019 was a couple of weeks later, at the end of March, which is unusual—in 2015, bud break was in February,” he began. “2019 was a bit of a return to normal in the sense that there was about 64% more rainfall than average. There was a bit of rain in May during flowering and not a lot of millerandage. Then it warmed up, and as the season progressed, it got incrementally warmer, and the cycle caught up.” Despite the later bud break, harvest dates were nearly identical to those in 2018; Mangahas said a lighter crop load sped up ripening a bit. “It was a cooler vintage with an even growing season and balanced canopies, with a little heat toward the end of the season when we needed it,” he explained. “It was the balance of healthy plants, a modest crop and really good weather without challenges or pushes to bring the fruit in.” I asked Mangahas whether he preferred the concentrated, powerful 2018s or the elegant, energetic 2019s. “I would put 2019 slightly higher in my book than the 2018s. They have balance, power, integrated tannins and nice concentration. There’s a tiny bit of a step up even though the 2018s were great.” I agreed with his assessment and asked why he thought the two vintages gave such different expressions. “What I think is magical about 2019 is that growth and ripening across the board were even,” he said. “If you have bud break early, there aren’t enough sunlight hours, and the plants struggle to get going. They spend the growing season catching up, and the grapes ripen unevenly. In 2018 we were on the earlier side of bud break, a hindrance in my opinion, especially with Pinot Noir. So it’s not the only reason but a contributing factor as to why the 2019s are more polished.””
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (07/22)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
£129.95
“California lost one of its great wine pioneers with the passing of Burt Williams in December 2019. The first commercial vintage of Williams Selyem was in 1981, and all these years later, it remains a benchmark for Pinot Noir in California. Williams influenced countless winemakers and was integral in shaping the wine landscape in California that we are fortunate to inherit today. We raise our glasses in your honor.”
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (12/19)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
£187.95
“The 2017 Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard is powerful and tightly wound, with less of the appeal found in most of these 2017s. That shouldn’t be too much of an issue in another few years’ time, but readers should plan on being patient. There is not much Russian River charm on display today. Drinking window: 2022-2032. 94+ points
Williams Selyem generally releases their wines in two groupings, so I don’t often have an opportunity to taste them all together, as I did this year. I was deeply impressed. From top to bottom, the 2017s are absolutely delicious and also quite differentiated.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (05/19)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
£115.95
“From the southern portion of the Anderson Valley, the 2019 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and layered, appealingly broody aromas of dried red cherries and cranberry jelly, lilac and blueberries, cast iron and licorice. The palate explodes with deep red fruits and tones of blood orange, with a frame of sandy tannins, bursts of fresh acidity and iron-like tones characterizing the long finish. It deserves another 2-3 years in bottle to continue to unfold. Drink: 2022-2032. 94 points
I visited Williams Selyem in the spring of 2022 to taste the 2019s with winemaker Jeff Mangahas. It’s an exceptional vintage for the Russian River Valley, where the typical power, black fruits and higher alcohol style gave way to more elegant, energetic and expressive wines. Mangahas recapped the season. “Compared to the 10-year average, bud break in 2019 was a couple of weeks later, at the end of March, which is unusual—in 2015, bud break was in February,” he began. “2019 was a bit of a return to normal in the sense that there was about 64% more rainfall than average. There was a bit of rain in May during flowering and not a lot of millerandage. Then it warmed up, and as the season progressed, it got incrementally warmer, and the cycle caught up.” Despite the later bud break, harvest dates were nearly identical to those in 2018; Mangahas said a lighter crop load sped up ripening a bit. “It was a cooler vintage with an even growing season and balanced canopies, with a little heat toward the end of the season when we needed it,” he explained. “It was the balance of healthy plants, a modest crop and really good weather without challenges or pushes to bring the fruit in.” I asked Mangahas whether he preferred the concentrated, powerful 2018s or the elegant, energetic 2019s. “I would put 2019 slightly higher in my book than the 2018s. They have balance, power, integrated tannins and nice concentration. There’s a tiny bit of a step up even though the 2018s were great.” I agreed with his assessment and asked why he thought the two vintages gave such different expressions. “What I think is magical about 2019 is that growth and ripening across the board were even,” he said. “If you have bud break early, there aren’t enough sunlight hours, and the plants struggle to get going. They spend the growing season catching up, and the grapes ripen unevenly. In 2018 we were on the earlier side of bud break, a hindrance in my opinion, especially with Pinot Noir. So it’s not the only reason but a contributing factor as to why the 2019s are more polished.”“
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (07/22)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Foss Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
£108.95
“The Pinots are the highlights among these new releases from Williams Selyem. The first set of 2019 Pinots show the early appeal and charm of the vintage. The second batch of 2018s (I reviewed the earlier releases last year) capture the intensity and dimension that are such signatures of the year. I was far less impressed with the whites, all of which were pretty anonymous, both on their own and relative to the quality level that is the norm in Sonoma today.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (01/21)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2020
£104.95
“California lost one of its great wine pioneers with the passing of Burt Williams in December 2019. The first commercial vintage of Williams Selyem was in 1981, and all these years later, it remains a benchmark for Pinot Noir in California. Williams influenced countless winemakers and was integral in shaping the wine landscape in California that we are fortunate to inherit today. We raise our glasses in your honor.”
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (12/19)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016
£84.95
“The 2016 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is laced with the essence of bright red fruit, blood orange, mint, chalk and white flowers. Tense and vibrant in the glass, with striking inner perfume, the 2016 is terrific. Beams of underlying salinity extend the bright finish in a tense, wiry Pinot that is full of personality. Drinking window: 2019-2026. 90 points”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (04/18)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Weir Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
£109.75
“The 2017 Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard is beautifully lifted and precise, as wines from this appellation tend to be. Crushed flowers, crushed berries and mint add nuance as this high-toned, perfumed Pinot opens up in the glass. The Weir will appeal most to readers who appreciate delicacy in Pinot Noir. Drinking window: 2020-2032. 93 points
Williams Selyem generally releases their wines in two groupings, so I don’t often have an opportunity to taste them all together, as I did this year. I was deeply impressed. From top to bottom, the 2017s are absolutely delicious and also quite differentiated.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (05/19)
In Stock
Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir 2017
£119.95
“The 2017 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is another wine in this range that is all about understatement and nuance. Medium in body yet also quite deep and resonant, the Westside Road Neighbors is succulent and inviting from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, violet and cloves all add to the wine’s dark-ish leaning flavor profile. Drinking window: 2022-2032. 94 points
Williams Selyem generally releases their wines in two groupings, so I don’t often have an opportunity to taste them all together, as I did this year. I was deeply impressed. From top to bottom, the 2017s are absolutely delicious and also quite differentiated.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (05/19)
In Stock
DuMOL Ritchie Vineyard Chloe Chardonnay 2017
£74.99
“The 2017 Chardonnay Chloe Ritchie Vineyard is beautifully floral and perfumed, with soaring aromatics and racy, layered fruit. There is plenty of depth, but in this range, the Ritchie stands out for its lifted, gracious feel and exceptional balance. Drinking window: 2020-2027. 95 points
Over the years, I have learned to allow for plenty of time for my tastings at DuMol. I was super-impressed with the wines I tasted on my last visit. Andy Smith continues to grow the range thoughtfully. The Chardonnays and Pinots remain the strong suits, mostly because they form the core of the range and have really been fine tuned over time. The 2017 Chardonnays have turned out just as well as I had hoped they would. The wines are rich, deep and full of character. Today, I favor the 2017s over the 2018s, which come across as lighter. Then again, the Chardonnays see pretty long élevage (by California standards) of 11 months in oak and 6 months in steel (for the vineyard designates) so there is plenty of time for the 2018s to perhaps gain a bit more dimension. The two vintages appear closer in quality for Pinot Noir. Smith opted to handle the 2018s very gently in the cellar, and did half the number of punchdowns than the norm. Both the 2017s and 2018s are vivid and super-expressive. I favor 2018 over 2017 for the Cabernets and Syrahs, as the longer and more benign growing season was clearly more favorable for both varieties.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (01/20)
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DuMOL Widdoes Vineyard Ryan Pinot Noir 2016
£97.95
“The 2016 Pinot Noir Ryan Widdoes Vineyard is one of the most distinctive wines in this lineup. Soaring, perfumed aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit give the Widdoes much of its multi-faceted profile. Red berry fruit, blood orange, mint and floral overtones build as this striking, deeply expressive Pinot shows off its unmistakable pedigree and pure class. Drinking window: 2021-2031. 95 points
Andy Smith and his team turned out a brilliant set of wines in 2017. The harvest was especially condensed, with most days seeing heavy picks of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay pretty much concurrently. Smith told me the DuMOL parcels were affected by a high incidence of shot berries, which naturally lowered yields. Small berries, often with no seeds, further resulted in a collection of dense wines. Smith told me low alcohol conversions resulted in wines with a bit lower alcohol than is typical. That is fascinating, as the wines are quite rich in feel. The bottled 2016s are just as compelling from bottle as they were last year from barrel.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous (05/19)
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Williams Selyem Drake Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
£99.99
“The 2017 Chardonnay Drake Estate Vineyard offers scents of quince peel, green apple, cheese rind and baker’s yeast, opening to notes of dried chamomile, toast and almonds. It’s light to medium-bodied and lively in the mouth with creamy/nutty touches, tangy acidity and a long, almond-tinged finish. 352 cases produced. Drink: 2020-2026. 91 points
California lost one of its great wine pioneers with the passing of Burt Williams in December 2019. The first commercial vintage of Williams Selyem was in 1981, and all these years later, it remains a benchmark for Pinot Noir in California. Williams influenced countless winemakers and was integral in shaping the wine landscape in California that we are fortunate to inherit today. We raise our glasses in your honor.”
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (12/19)
Sold Out