If you want to talk about the upper echelon, creme de la creme Pinot Noir producers from California, you simply cannot leave Williams Selyem out of the conversation. From the very first time Burt Williams and Ed Selyem made wine as a hobby, people flocked to the guys for a chance to buy their wines. The winery focuses on only the highest quality vineyards, and take the utmost care of the grapes upon arrival. Current winemaker Jeff Mangahas (who was formerly winemaker at Hartford), continues to focus on these exceptional vineyards, and had the know-how to bring out the best from each parcel. The Williams Selyem wines drink beautifully upon release, and we have opened up bottlings that were close to 20 years old that were magical! For years, we have received very small quantities of the Williams Selyem wines (often as little as 1 bottle of certain vineyard designations) but after a trip to NorCal at the start of the pandemic, our buyer was able to finally secure enough to offer these gems to a select few!
JEB DUNNUCK 93+ POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is a youthful hazy red color and reveals refreshing, compact wild berry fruit, with redcurrants, black raspberries, fresh flowers, brambly herbs, and sweet spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with finely coiled tannins and bright tension in its mouthwatering acidity. This wine demands another 6-12 months but can be enjoyed over the following 15 years."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A frankly ripe red, with succulent mulberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes pumping along, while red licorice, fruitcake and bramble details fill in throughout. Shows a floral flash in the background for a touch of lift. Will have many fans for sure. Drink now through 2031."
JEB DUNNUCK 93+ POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is a youthful hazy red color and reveals refreshing, compact wild berry fruit, with redcurrants, black raspberries, fresh flowers, brambly herbs, and sweet spices. The palate is medium-bodied, with finely coiled tannins and bright tension in its mouthwatering acidity. This wine demands another 6-12 months but can be enjoyed over the following 15 years."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A frankly ripe red, with succulent mulberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes pumping along, while red licorice, fruitcake and bramble details fill in throughout. Shows a floral flash in the background for a touch of lift. Will have many fans for sure. Drink now through 2031."
