2023 William Selyem Chardonnay Allen Vineyard

Winemaker Notes

The 2023 Williams Selyem Chardonnay Allen Vineyard from the Russian River Valley is a beautifully expressive wine that highlights the purity of Chardonnay. It opens with vibrant aromas of green pear, apple, crushed minerals, and delicate white flowers, while subtle notes of wood spice and nuttiness from sur lie aging add depth. The palate begins rich and voluminous, with laser-focused acidity that carries the fruit flavors into a tangerine-like finish, leaving a lingering mineral impression. This vintage reflects the cooler growing season, showcasing Williams Selyem’s elegant and balanced winemaking style.

About Winery

Like most good stories, the history of Williams Selyem owes much to serendipity. If a grower with an abundance of fruit hadn’t given Burt Williams a few tonnes of free grapes in the 1970s, Burt might never have discovered his love and flair for winemaking. And if Burt and his partner Ed Selyem had been able to afford the French Burgundies they both favoured, they might never have tried making their own pinot noir.

The two friends didn’t set out to produce wines for anyone but themselves. And they surely never imagined that their humble experiment in home winemaking would spawn a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Together, Burt and Ed set a new standard for American-made pinot noir, and elevated Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley to among the best wine growing regions in the world.

Now considered Russian River Valley royalty, Williams Selyem are responsible for some of the most sought-after handcrafted expressions of pinot noir across both the New World and Old.