Our Mission - Williams Selyem

Fall 2014 Release
Our Mission
make the best wines from the best grapes from the best growers
Our motto at Williams Selyem has long been our guiding force. In our last letter, we celebrated how we thank and honor
our stellar growers for the dedication and attention to detail they apply to their craft. In this newsletter, we want to
recognize the enormous contributions of our own colleagues who farm our Drake Estate Vineyard, Williams Selyem
Estate Vineyard, our recently purchased Eastside Estate Vineyard and the Vista Verde Vineyard in San Benito County.
In Sonoma County, John Dyson, a Cornell trained viticulturalist and very proud Ag
College graduate, has worked with Chris Bowland for over 12 years. Over the years,
lively discussions over rootstocks, clones, trellis designs, and vine spacing have ensued
much to the benefit of our home-grown grapes and our pride in the wines our Estate
vineyards produce. Though Chris owns and runs his own business, Bowland Vineyard
Management, and is not a Williams Selyem employee, he is a key part of our family.
Chris Bowland
It was not always like this at Williams Selyem. When John and Kathe bought the
winery, Burt and Ed excelled in purchasing the BEST GRAPES, but owned no
vineyards directly. While treasuring their relationships, and now ours, with the
remarkably talented and pioneering BEST GROWERS like Joe Rochioli, Helen and
Charles Bacigalupi, Howie Allen, Donnie Schatzberg and Bill Weir, John believes that
a stand out brand like Williams Selyem should own and grow half of its own fruit —
“excellence from the ground to the glass”, as John says.
This philosophy led to the acquisition of the Drake Estate Vineyard in 1998, then an apple orchard. The next purchase
was made in 2001 and is the Estate property on which the Williams Selyem Winery stands, the former Litton Ranch.
Finally, the property located on the eastside of the Russian River, almost directly opposite to our winery on Westside
Road. Chris Bowland has applied his considerable talents to the planting, cultivation and careful nurturing of our vines
in these premier Sonoma County sites. The most recent, the Eastside Estate, was a
fortunate purchase as it has the pedigree of the neighboring Calegari, Foss and Lone Oak
Vineyards in the special Russian River climate on the eastside of the river.
This year we will release Luella’s Garden, an Estate grown Pinot Noir named for the
original owner of our Westside Road vineyard, Luella Litton. It will join our Block 10
Mass Selection Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir and the Vista Verde Chenin Blanc in our
lineup of special wines that can be tasted and purchased only at the winery. Come visit us
and enjoy our outdoor tasting salon and special places on our terrace. The views will
enchant you.
At the Vista Verde Vineyard, near the town of Hollister on the Central Coast, where John
began growing grapes in 1990 (having learned the hard way in the New York climate),
Miguel Alvarado helps John just as Chris does in Sonoma County. You may have tasted
our Central Coast or Vista Verde bottlings from this spectacularly beautiful ranch. With
its high limestone soils and temperate climate, Miguel grows a series of clones to peak
ripeness for Williams Selyem.
Continued on back
7227 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 T 707.433.6425 F 707.431.4862
www.williamsselyem.com
Miguel Alvarado
[email protected]
Picking aPinot
Elegant
choosing your perfect wine
One of the most frequently asked questions during the
release is, “which wines should I purchase”? Well, all of
them of course! We realize that there are many wines to
choose from and you may not have tried all of them. In
order to better guide you, we have organized the Pinot
Noirs by what we call ‘weight’, which refers to the structure of the wine. All of our Pinot Noirs are made in the
traditional Williams Selyem style, but within that framework there is a range from elegant to well-structured to
full-bodied.
If you are particularly fond a specific wine, such as the
Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir, then there is a good chance
you’ll also like the other Pinot Noirs that we’ve characterized as similar, like the Burt Williams Morning Dew
Ranch and the Peay Vineyard. These elegant wines often
share the same characteristics of delicate red fruit with
flavors of cherry and raspberry.
If Rochioli is your favorite then try the Ferrington Vineyard or Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noirs. These
well-structured wines exhibit a slightly riper fruit profile
tending towards dark cherry and blackberry.
And, if Coastlands is at the top of your list then the
Hirsch Vineyard and the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir will be good choices. These full-bodied
wines show more black fruit than red, usually with a hint
of earthy mushroom and herbs.
Of course, we all know that this is a subjective matter and
not all palates will completely agree with these suggestions. We encourage you to share your tasting notes at:
www.williamsselyem.mobi
2012 Bucher Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$59
13.9% ALC.
Raspberry and strawberry flavors intermingle with subtle hints of
vanilla, leather and earth. Aromas of rose petals emerge after some
time in the glass. Flavors of smoked meats, nutmeg and coffee round
out the elegant tannin profile. The clonal mix of Swan, Pommard, Mt.
Eden and Jackson continue to produce wines of a dynamic nature.
2012 Peay Vineyard
SONOMA COAST
$59
14.2% ALC.
2012 marks the last vintage for the Williams Selyem Peay Vineyard
Pinot Noir. The bright cherry and wild herb notes capture the essence
of this cool climate site on the coastal ridgeline. The cherry notes
carry through onto the palate and finish with a subtle mineral note
that is typical of the site.
2012 Burt Williams’
Morning Dew Ranch
ANDERSON VALLEY
$78
14.1% ALC.
Located in the far end of the Anderson Valley, referred to as the “deep
end”, Burt Williams’ Morning Dew Ranch sits in an ideal cool climate
location for Pinot Noir. This is a highly expressive wine, rich in
aromatics with notes of pomegranate, orange, allspice and vanilla.
Additional layers of ginger, pencil lead and minerals complete the
intense profile. Round and supple in the mouth, the seamless acidity
carries the flavors and the fine grained tannins effortlessly into the
long finish. This is another impressive vintage from Burt Williams’
Morning Dew Ranch, which will improve with an additional 7-10
years of aging.
2012 Allen Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$82
14.4% ALC.
The 2012 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir is another blockbuster wine.
Aromas and flavors of strawberry and red cherry are lifted with lively
notes of fresh roses. Round at the entry, the tannins build on the
palate and finish with notes of pencil lead and mineral.
2012 Precious Mountain Vineyard
SONOMA COAST
$95
13.6% ALC.
Bright berry and cherry notes with elements of underbrush are
highlighted in this elegant Pinot Noir. The finish is long with a
gravelly, mineral-like texture giving this wine a true Sonoma
Coast profile.
PINOT NOIR
Medium-Bodied
2012 Calegari Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Full -Bodied
$55
14.1% ALC.
The second vintage from the Calegari Vineyard offers an array of red
cherry, cranberry and red raspberry aromas, while red rose, sassafras
and cinnamon burst from the glass. The juicy acidity is coupled with
a silky, tea-like finish that lingers on the palate. A component of the
Eastside Road Neighbors since 2008, this second vintage of the
Calegari Vineyard Pinot Noir is a classic example of Pinot Noir from
Russian River Valley.
2012 Vista Verde Vineyard
SAN BENITO COUNTY
$58
YORKVILLE HIGHLANDS
$58
ANDERSON VALLEY
$65
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Blended from unique sites along the Eastside Road ridgeline above
the Russian River, the Eastside Road Neighbors offers an explosion
of fruit on the nose and palate. On the nose, notes of blackberry,
black cherry, mulberry and dried rose petals mix with subtle notes of
sarsaparilla root. Round at the entry, blackberry and anise complete
each sip, with hints of vanilla bean and wood spices on the finish. The
excellent weight and balanced acidity gives a wonderful shape on the
palate. This vintage can be enjoyed in its youth because of its lively
nature but will age well and develop even more secondary aromas and
flavors in years to come.
2012 Foss Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$55
14.2% ALC.
Deep, rich elements of blackberry and black cherry comingle with
hints of lavender, nutmeg, allspice and sandalwood in this second
offering from the Foss Vineyard. While plush and round on the
palate, the fresh acidity carries on through the mid-palate and gives
length to the wine’s chocolaty tannins. Vanilla and baking spices
complete the profile of this wonderfully rich wine.
2012 Coastlands Vineyard
SONOMA COAST
$75
13.9% ALC.
High above the town of Occidental on the Coast Range, the Coastlands Vineyard is influenced by ocean fog and cool breezes. The
results are compelling, offering diverse aromatics and flavors. Deep
in color, notes of black cherry, tree bark and sandalwood rise from
the glass while nutmeg and other wood spices contribute to the
complexity of this wine. The refined tannins make for a round, plush
wine with a lift of acidity to maintain the focus — a truly unique site
which produces a very small amount of fruit.
13.9% ALC.
The brilliant color and dark fruit profile of the Ferrington
Vineyard Pinot Noir is a superb example of Pinot Noir from the
Boonville area in Anderson Valley. Bing cherry and raspberry,
along with floral notes and dried herbs intermingle on the nose and
palate to create a vibrant wine. Elements of mineral, cardamom,
nutmeg and vanilla add to the dynamic profile. The Ferrington
Vineyard Pinot Noir retains a refreshing acidity, while displaying
firm tannins. Hints of coffee nibs add to the lingering finish.
2012 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard
13.7% ALC.
13.8% ALC.
A splendid display of dark fruits, including Bing cherry, crushed
blackberry and mountain strawberry explode from the glass. The fruit
profile is balanced with notes of lavender, vanilla bean, cinnamon and
crushed rocks. The texture has a wonderful grip, which gives way to
cherry pie and citrus flavors that linger on the palate. The finish is
persistent with elements of spice, mineral and bittersweet chocolate.
The 2012 Weir is a blockbuster Pinot Noir which is approachable in its
youth but can also be enjoyed in years to come.
2012 Ferrington Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$52
13.8% ALC.
Deep berry notes intertwined with plum and crushed raspberries
jump from the glass, while flavors of vanilla and nutmeg help complete
the aromatic profile. This wine has wonderful mouthfeel, which gives
way to a refreshing acidity with hints of spice and mandarin orange on
the mid-palate. A lifted note of fresh rose petals with underlying
chalky minerality and mocha round out this complex wine.
2012 Weir Vineyard
2012 Eastside Road Neighbors
$79
13.9% ALC.
Alluring Bing cherry and vanilla immediately jump from the glass
but give way to deeper notes of smoked meats, grilled herbs and
minerals. The 2012 Rochioli Riverblock Pinot Noir shows intensity
on the palate that is nearly unmatched in the Russian River Valley,
though the wine manages to retain a sense of restraint with its
elegant, silky tannins and long finish. This vintage is a classic in the
making and can be cellared for 7-10 years.
2012 Hirsch Vineyard
SONOMA COAST
$78
13.8% ALC.
Wild herbs and dark berries permeate the nose of the 2012 Hirsch
Vineyard Pinot Noir. Chinese five-spice and black tea complete the
exotic aromatic profile. Powerful on the palate with intense berry
and herb flavors, this wine remains lithe as it is tempered by a freshness of orange and citrus peel. Minerals on the finish give the palate
a dramatic punctuation.
2012 Williams Selyem
Estate Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$105
14.1% ALC.
Bing cherry and cinnamon surge from the glass in this quintessential
offering of Pinot Noir from our Estate vineyard. Blended primarily
from Swan, Mt. Eden and Pommard clones, this wine offers a complex
array of aromas and flavors. With aeration, additional notes of cardamom and fennel seed emerge and juicy fine-grained tannins meld into
a cocoa powder-like finish on the palate. This is a wine that can be
enjoyed now but will develop with another 7-10 years of aging.
A Note
on the 2012 vintage
Simply put the 2012 vintage
was extraordinary in all
respects. After the cool growing
seasons of 2010 and 2011,
which resulted in excellent
quality but very low yields,
Mother Nature was smiling on
us in 2012 with superb growing
conditions and a bountiful
harvest. From the cold regions of the Sonoma Coast to the Anderson
Valley to the Russian River Valley it was truly an extraordinary year.
The resultant wines have beautiful, bright aromatics with supple tannins
and refreshing acidities. A vintage like this, where everything comes
together perfectly is rare and will certainly be a vintage to enjoy for
many, many years to come!
With slightly below average rainfall for the season, the timing of the
rainfall during the winter months was adequate to allow for good soil
penetration. With record setting highs in the middle of February, the
onset of bud break was a bit on the early side. In general, bud break
started the first week of March in the Russian River Valley and
mid-April at the Coast and other colder
micro-climates.
The exceptional weather in 2012 during the
spring allowed for good, moderate
vegetative growth, superb flowering
conditions and an above average fruit set
and yield. Flowering began around the 3rd
week of May in the Russian River Valley and
was more than 50% complete by early June.
There was a trace of rain on June 4th but
that did not affect the remainder of
flowering nor the subsequent fruit set.
In the days and weeks following fruit set, it became apparent that
berries and clusters were sizing up beyond original expectations.
Cluster thinning proceeded based on these estimates which, in turn,
balanced the crop load and allowed for even ripening of the remaining
fruit. Verasion started in early August and finished under very ideal
weather conditions. Due to the dry conditions during this time, mold
pressure was of little or no significance and as a consequence, the
integrity of the fruit was absolutely pristine.
Harvest commenced on August 31st at the Williams Selyem Estate
Vineyard and continued steadily through September at an even and
methodical pace, finishing on October 6th with the far coastal
vineyards. 2012 was a vintage where ripe and mature stem, seed and skin
tannins were achieved and were harmoniously balanced with the natural
acidity. Enveloped with pure and intense aromas and flavors and richly
textured and structured wines, the results are clearly evident, 2012 is
truly an extraordinary vintage.
CHARDONNAY
2012 Allen Vineyard
$55
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
14.4% ALC.
The 2012 growing season produced yet another classic
Chardonnay from the Allen Vineyard. Apple and baking
spices give way to notes of pear and quince, while white
flowers add to the profile of this highly expressive wine. The
palate delivers as well, with flavors of yellow apple, pear,
nutmeg and subtle hints of vanilla. The long mineral finish
punctuates this compelling offering. Enjoy with crab and
lobster dishes.
2012 Drake Estate Vineyard
$65
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
14.5% ALC.
Meyer lemon and white nectarine notes comingle with fresh
floral aromatics in the glass, while citrus peel and stone fruit
characteristics are carried through the finish by a focused
acidity. The texture of this Chardonnay is rich and opulent,
making the 2012 a truly compelling vintage from Drake
Estate Vineyard.
ZINFANDEL
2012 Bacigalupi Vineyard
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
$55
14.8% ALC.
The revered Bacigalupi Vineyard produces an archetypal
Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley. On the nose,
boysenberry and blackberry notes intermingle with star
anise and allspice notes. In the mouth, the flavors explode
with a rich gamut of red and black fruits. The acidity is
refreshing and gives focus to this incredibly rich Zinfandel.
PORT
2009 Vista Verde Vineyard
SAN BENITO COUNTY
$40/375ml
20.0% ALC.
Portuguese varieties – Touriga National, Tinta Cao, Tinta
Francesca and Tinta Madeira – were used to create this Port in
the traditional style. Elements of violet, blackberry compote
and cassis emerge from the glass in this exciting offering from
our Vista Verde Vineyard. Clove, star anise and tamari
intermingle with elements of bittersweet chocolate and
Marcona almonds on the dynamic nose. As with traditional
Ports, this wine will benefit from long-term aging.
Continued from page 1
Important
Dates
SEPTEMBER 7
Close of Release
MID OCTOBER
Shipping Begins
(weather permitting)
OCTOBER 24-26
Pickup Weekend Event at
Williams Selyem Estate Winery
OCT. 27 - NOV. 7
Pickups by appointment at
Williams Selyem Estate Winery
(unclaimed wine will be
shipped on November 11)
These two exceptional and
exacting growers apply
science, experience, passion
and dedication to doing
what is needed, when it is
needed to achieve the BEST
GRAPES. We’d like to
acknowledge and thank
them for all they do to
provide half of our total
grape crop — a large share of
the BEST GRAPES in our motto.
They rank among our BEST GROWERS, for sure.
John Dyson
Of course, this year at our Annual Growers’ Harvest party we will also
recognize one of our special and long-time growers — we are so lucky to
have such amazing relationships with the BEST GROWERS. They
provide us with an enticingly wide variety of choice sites, which are
reflected in our vineyard designate wines.
We’ve talked about the BEST GRAPES and the BEST GROWERS and
now a here’s a bit about the BEST WINES part of our motto. As you’ve
probably heard, 2012 is a tremendous vintage with exceptional wines
across the board. From what we can tell so far, 2014 is shaping up to be an
amazing vintage as well. The year started out warm and dry and it appears
(at the time of writing) that we are headed for our earliest harvest ever. It’s
going to be another incredible vintage and we’ll look forward to sharing
the product of this harvest with you in 2016!
OCT. 31 - NOV. 2
Pickup Weekend Event
at Millbrook Winery in NY
CONTACT US
www.williamsselyem.com
[email protected]
Phone: 707-433-6425
Fax: 707-431-4862
Cheers from all of us at Williams Selyem!
Ordering
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Online ordering is strongly encouraged! To access your allocation through the website, log in with the
User ID and encrypted Password printed on your order form.
•
Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Allocations are not guaranteed; they represent the
number of bottles available to you until the wine sells out (which is often before the last day to order).
Please place your order as soon as possible for best order fulfillment.
•
For bottles beyond your allocation, please use the wish list column. These requests will be filled, if
possible, after the close of the release on September 7. You do not need to include payment for wish list
wines; we will charge or invoice your account later if the request is filled.
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While online ordering is strongly encouraged, you may fax your completed order form to
(707) 431-4862. If paying by check, please send via mail to 7227 Westside Rd, Healdsburg CA 95448
•
Order confirmations will be sent via email. Please verify your address!
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Faxed or mailed orders submitted without written payment will not be filled; phone and email orders
are not accepted.
Shipping
•
Wines will begin shipping in mid October, weather permitting.
•
Some states do not permit direct wine shipments, or they may limit the amount of wine we can ship to
you. Please see the back of your order form for more details and shipping/handling fees.
•
We require a shipping address where there is someone over 21 years of age available to sign for the
package during regular business hours.
WinePickup
CALIFORNIA
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If you intend to pick up your wine at Williams Selyem Winery, select the “CA Pickup” option on your order.
Our Fall 2014 Pickup Weekend will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 24-26, from 10:00 AM to
4:00 PM, at 7227 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Winery pickups are available at Williams Selyem from October 27-November 7 between 10:00 AM and
3:00 PM. Please call or email at least one day in advance to schedule a pickup date: (707) 433-6425 or
[email protected]
Orders not picked up by Friday, November 7 will be shipped at the customer’s expense to the billing
address on file on Tuesday, November 11.
If you would like All Ways Cool (707) 545-7450 or 55 Degrees (707) 963-5513, or Fitch Mountain*
(707) 433-1247 to receive the order on your behalf, you must establish an account and coordinate
shipment with that company directly. (*No account required, only prior arrangements with Fitch
Mountain needed)
NEW YORK
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If you intend to pick up your wine at Millbrook Winery, select the “NY Pickup” option on your order.
Fall Pickup Weekend at Millbrook Winery will be October 31-November 2.
Daily winery pickups are available November 3-November 30 between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, no
appointment necessary. 26 Wing Road, Millbrook, NY 12545, (845) 662-WINE ext. 21,
[email protected], www.millbrookwine.com.