Spring 2025 Newsletter
A Note From Jeff Mangahas, VP/Director of Winemaking
As we embark on a new year and the release of the 2023 vintage, I am reflecting on the successes of last year. In addition to another outstanding qualitative vintage, 2024 was capped off with the 2022 Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir being awarded the #8 wine of the year from Wine Spectator! This crowning moment is just another chapter in the storied history of Williams Selyem. From the 1985 Rochioli winning the sweepstakes at the California State Fair, to the 2007 Litton Estate being the first North American Pinot Noir to be awarded 100 points, to today being awarded a top 10 wine of the year in the world, we are proud of our long-standing commitment to excellence and quality. Little did Burt Williams and Ed Selyem know that they were on the verge of something special when they started making wine in a garage in Fulton, California back in the late 1970s. Through innovation, sheer dedication and commitment to quality, they showed the world that the Russian River Valley was capable of producing wines of distinction and quality. Many were inspired by their pioneering spirit that helped shape the region’s wine industry.
Williams Selyem’s artisanal approach to winemaking is exemplified by the continued practice of Burt and Ed’s many innovations of repurposing impeccably made stainless steel dairy tanks for fermentation. They have a low, shallow form and enabled gentle extraction of the Pinot Noir grapes. The increased ratio of skin to juice along with gentle foot treading techniques during vinification created a wine that had a beautiful texture that would become the signature style of Williams Selyem. Due to the high acclaim and the limited production, Burt and Ed were forced to develop a system of selling their wine directly to consumers, where they allocated individual bottles to customers to keep everyone happy. Flash forward to today, we still do the same things that helped define us. When John and Kathe Dyson purchased Williams Selyem from Burt and Ed in 1998, John was famously quoted as saying: “I’ve never worked so hard to change nothing”. This has been and will continue to be the mantra at Williams Selyem with the many unique things that set us apart.
The coming 2025 harvest will mark the 45th vintage for Williams Selyem, which is no easy feat in today’s world of competitiveness and consolidation. It signifies the timelessness of the style that has become so beloved and enduring. A new chapter is unfolding with the seven generation Burgundian family of Domaine Faiveley purchasing a majority interest in Williams Selyem in 2024. They are committed to preserving the integrity of what has made Williams Selyem great. Domaine Faiveley will be celebrating their bicentennial this year, demonstrating their ongoing dedication to tradition and respect for the land they farm.
The wines in this release from the 2023 vintage are classics in the making. The coolness of the vintage, coupled with our elegant style, together reach new qualitative heights and I hope that you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them. We continue to work with some of the best vineyards that have made these wines beloved icons. In this release we also are introducing a new Zinfandel from the historic Belloni Vineyard with century-old vines that make a unique and distinctive wine.
All along, our List Members have known our commitment to excellence, and that is what has made us great. We owe our success to your trust in us and your faithfulness to our wines. I personally have heard many of your stories of how you have enjoyed Williams Selyem wines on birthdays, anniversaries, or even on a Tuesday night with pizza and how memorable it was. We are grateful that you have and will continue to enjoy our wines. Thank you!
Vintage Summary
We experienced a welcome sense of normality in 2023, after tumultuous weather patterns during previous growing seasons, including drought conditions, heat events, and hail. This vintage began auspiciously with historical average rainfall and modest temperatures at the start of bud break. Ample sunshine and early heat resulted in even growth of the canopies, creating uniformity and balance as the vines entered the flowering cycle. While it was similarly cool at the outset of 2011, the 2023 heat units built slowly, and the weather was ideal by May. The flowering period was quick, and the fruit set bountiful. The weather was perfect in June and July, with a few heat spikes that kept the plants healthy and sustained. Mid-season crop adjustments were necessary to ensure good vine balance as veraison approached. With the cooler start to the vintage and the normal fog pattern of August, the ripening cycle slowed, and the crop achieved ideal hang time for tannin development at modest sugars. Across the board, the wines exhibit terrific purity of character with excellent tannin resolution. While hot and dry years can create wines of shocking intensity, these cooler vintages showcase the elegant style of Williams Selyem., and all in all a terrific vintage with aging potential.
– Jeff Mangahas, VP/Director of Winemaking