WILLIAMS SELYEM Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noir - San Benito County 2019 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Williams Selyem Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is a refined, expressive single site bottling from Sonoma County, marrying varietal purity with vivid site character. Translucent ruby with a hint of garnet at the rim, it offers bright red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry with rose petal and a sanguine edge; airing reveals forest floor, subtle gamey lift and crushed stone. Medium bodied with a supple focused texture, fine tannins frame Morello cherry and raspberry, edged by redcurrant acidity, while cedar, dried herb and a touch of mocha add complexity. Fresh acidity drives a lively savoury finish with a faint iron note. Approachable now and will evolve with short to medium term cellaring. Drink 2026 to 2032. Critic: Wine Enthusiast 94: "Suave viscosity delivering snapped sage, mulling spice and black cherry compote."

ABOUT THIS WINE
Williams Selyem Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 is a refined and expressive single site bottling from one of Sonoma County’s most respected producers, combining varietal purity with vivid site character. The colour is a translucent ruby with a hint of garnet at the rim, indicating freshness with early development. The nose opens with bright red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry, underscored by perfumed notes of rose petal and a touch of sanguine complexity. With airing the bouquet deepens to reveal subtle gamey lift, forest floor and a whisper of crushed stone that speaks to the vineyard aspect and soils.

On the palate the wine is medium bodied with a supple yet focused texture and finely tuned tannins that provide shape without undue weight. Primary red fruit remains at the core, Morello cherry and raspberry edged by redcurrant acidity, while secondary layers of dried herb, cedar and a light mocha warmth from judicious oak add interest and complexity. There is notable mid palate energy, a bright seam of acidity that pulls the flavours through and keeps the finish lively. A delicate savoury thread and a faint iron note lengthen the finish and give a sense of place.

The 2019 vintage in Sonoma delivered ripe, concentrated fruit with balanced acidity, and at Vista Verde the site produced grapes with aromatic intensity and refined tannic structure. The result is a Pinot Noir that offers immediate pleasure yet has the composure to evolve in bottle.

Approachable now with gentle decanting, the wine will benefit from short to medium term cellaring to let tertiary nuances knit with the primary fruit. Drink 2026 to 2032, peaking 2027 to 2029. Pair with roast duck, grilled salmon, mushroom based dishes or soft washed rind cheeses to complement the wine’s red fruit and savoury complexity.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 94 points
Aromas of black cherry juice, licorice and nutmeg are quite dense on the nose. The palate begins with a suave viscosity that delivers flavors of snapped sage, mulling spice and black-cherry compote. — Matt Kettmann

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ABOUT WILLIAMS SELYEM
Williams Selyem is a renowned producer in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, celebrated for focused single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that helped define the region’s quality reputation. The winery began as a collaboration between Burt Williams and Ed Selyem in the late 1970s and grew from garage production to a highly sought after estate known for meticulous vineyard selection and small batch winemaking.

Ownership has passed through a small number of dedicated custodians who have protected the founders’ philosophy. John and Kathe Dyson acquired the estate in 1998 and maintained a steady, quality driven course for more than two decades. In 2024 the Faiveley family of Burgundy acquired a majority stake while the Dysons retained a significant minority interest; John Dyson is to remain in an executive role for the foreseeable future to ensure continuity.

The winery owns substantial vineyard holdings in the Russian River appellation and continues long standing relationships with premium growers across Sonoma County. Fruit selection is treated as the foundation of quality, with parcel by parcel decisions guiding harvest and vinification to capture site specificity and vintage nuance.

Winemaking is led by Jeff Mangahas, who serves as director of winemaking and who has maintained a restrained, fruit forward style that honours the Williams Selyem legacy. The cellar approach favours careful sorting, gentle extraction, temperature managed fermentations and considered use of oak to support structure without obscuring purity. The emphasis on single vineyard bottlings and small batch production preserves a direct connection between site and bottle.

Williams Selyem’s wines enjoy strong critical regard and enthusiastic collector demand. Tasting notes commonly cite ripe dark fruit, floral lift, textural tannins and lively acidity, with the best releases showing complexity and ageing potential. Under the new majority ownership the stated aim is to preserve the house style while benefitting from additional long term investment and Burgundian expertise.