This includes one bottle each of Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir 2009 and 2011 vintages.

About the winery

Imagine taking a vacation from your “day job” to crush grapes. That’s how Williams Selyem was born.

Williams Selyem Winery began as a simple dream of two friends, Ed Selyem and Burt Williams, who started weekend winemaking as a hobby in 1979 in a garage in Forestville, California. It took less than two decades from their first commercial vintage in 1981 for Burt and Ed to create a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Together, they set a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking in the United States, raising Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley to among the best winegrowing regions in the world. Here’s a brief history of Williams Selyem’s rise in the sometimes heartbreakingly cruel world of Pinot Noir. 

2009 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir 

From the Winemaker: Over 90% of this wine is produced from grapes grown from our Estate Vineyards with a bit from our neighboring vineyards along Westside and Eastside roads. This classic Russian River Valley blend exhibits the aromas of wild blackberries, shiitake mushrooms, cola, caramel and smoky bacon. The affluent and jam-packed tannins lift the blackberry fruits and earthiness across your palate. The vibrant acidity is complemented by the velvety and fatty textures in the complex, drawn out finish.

90 points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Bright ruby. Rather brooding aromas of deep dark berries and cherry, with hints of sassafras and licorice. Juicy and broad in the mouth, offering densely packed cherry-cola and black raspberry flavors and a chewy texture.

94 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine - A rich, dramatic wine that impresses for sheer deliciousness and elegance. It’s pretty much as good as the winery’s single-vineyard bottlings, but considerably less in price. Dry and silky, it shows beautiful acidity that makes the raspberry, cherry, cola, rhubarb, bacon and spice flavors sing.

2011 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir

From the Winemaker: Most of this fruit is grown on our Drake Estate Vineyard layered with vineyards from along Westside and Eastside Roads.  The nose is redolent of ripe blackberries, plums, toffee and crème brule. The rich and full tannins accentuate the blackberry and dark plumy fruits and complement the creamy, silky finish. The concentrated dark fruits and spicy flavors truly express the classic finesse and depth of complexity that you would expect from a classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

90 points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Bright ruby. Powerfully scented aromas of cherry-cola, black raspberry and potpourri, with exotic Asian spice nuances building in the glass. Youthfully wound up on entry, with slow-to-open red and dark berry liqueur flavors and subtle black pepper and floral pastille qualities.

90 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine - There’s a fresh, lilting quality to this Pinot, a silky airiness that feels weightless on the palate. Doubtless that’s due to the moderate alcohol. But there’s nothing light about the flavors, which are complex in black raspberry pie, softened Dr. Pepper cola, butterscotch, toast and spices. A beautiful Russian River Pinot made for drinking now with upscale fare.