De Nux proudly welcomes Sonoma county legend Williams Selyem to Arkansas!
Williams Selyem Winery began as a simple dream of two friends, Ed Selyem and Burt Williams, who pursued weekend winemaking as a hobby in 1979 in a garage in Forestville, California. In less than two decades, Burt and Ed created a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Together they set a new standard for Pinot Noir winemaking in the United States, aligning Sonoma County's Russian River Valley in the firmament of the best winegrowing regions of the world. Today John and Kathe Dyson, who purchased the winery from Burt and Ed in 1998, carry on the passion for Pinot Noir winemaking without compromise. As for the wines... they just keep getting better and better, consistently receiving top scores and acclaim from critics and consumers alike.
Today, the wines of Williams Selyem are primarily available through the winery's mailing list, created in 1987 out of a need to deal with increased demand from consumers. However, a small percentage of wine, both their flagship Pinot Noirs and smaller production wines like Chardonnay and Zinfandel, is released to distributors two times a year to find their way to top retail and restaurant accounts.
Our first round of wine is on its way! Available quantities are extremely limited for both retail and restaurant sales. Here's what to look out for:
2016 Unoaked Chardonnay
The yellowish-green color hints that this wine comes from a cool climate. The aromas are like a basket full of peaches, quince, and Asian pears. The fruit fragrance transitions to an alluring jasmine perfume. The palate is wonderfully balanced with flavors of pear and yellow apple that give way to stone fruit with a floral lift. Round and persistent throughout, the wine finishes with a refreshing and delicate minerality. Chardonnay is a great mate to barrel fermentation and ageing, but this is an excellent example of richness without oak. Previous vintage scores: 91pts Wine Enthusiast
2016 Central Coast Pinot Noir
The nose leads with aromas of plum and berries intermixed with crushed rocks. Notes of pomegranate are counterpointed with lively elements of orange peel and dried flowers. The entry is fat with a mid-palate lift of plum and flowers. The tannins are very tea-like, and carry on to the elegant finish with a touch of fresh acidity. An impression of minerals and earthiness is conveyed throughout the palate, adding intrigue and complexity. The palate is uniquely soft and chalky, and is filled with flavors of berry and mocha, with a subtle toasted almond finish. Previous vintage scores: 94pts Wine Enthusiast
2016 Sonoma County Pinot Noir
Sourced from the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast AVAs, the Sonoma County epitomizes elegance. Notes of strawberry and cherry are complemented by blueberry aromas. Hints of dried herbs and allspice combine with a sensation of Earl Grey tea. The palate mimics the nose with pretty strawberry and cherry flavors, and an added essence of plum. There is enough acidity to provide freshness all the way to the cherry stone sensation on the finish. This is a serious wine that is fruit-forward yet can definitely be enjoyed in its youth. Previous vintage scores: 92pts Wine Enthusiast
2016 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
The beautiful garnet color of this wine is alluring. Prototypical in its aromatic profile, the 2016 Russian River Valley leads with dried rose petals, potpourri, red cherry, raspberry, and notes of Ceylon tea. Additional aromas of dried orange peel studded with cloves mix with vanilla bean and cedar shavings to perfectly compliment the primary fruit characteristics. Robust and rich on the tongue, the wine seems to fill every square inch of the palate. Flavors of maraschino cherry, ripe berries, and dried herbs combine to make a powerful flavor profile. The tannins are quite refined and convey a sense of sap and tenacity. Another excellent wine from a great growing region! Previous vintage scores: 94pts Wine Enthusiast, 90pts Wine and Spirits
2016 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
The 2016 Sonoma Coast highlights the wild side of Pinot Noir. This wine evokes the smells of walking a trail on the coast through a redwood forest. Notes of dried herbs and sous bois mix with wild berry fruits and cedar. The aromas are further complexed with dried citrus peel, clove, and allspice. The palate typifies the coastal tannin profile, with robust finishes of citrus peel and gravelly stone. The structured and mineral-driven palate exudes flavors of cherry pit, flowers, and coffee. Previous vintage scores: 95pts Wine Enthusiast
2016 Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir
There is always a fineness to Westside Road Neighbors, and the 2016 does not disappoint! The nose starts out with red cherry, wild berries, and plum, and brightens up with notes of juniper berry, citrus, and redwood shavings. A brooding element lurks in the background and evokes thoughts of Asian spices. With time in the glass, the wine opens up with aromas of flowers and lavender. The wine is very focused in the mouth, and has a very protracted mouthfeel. Flavors of raspberry, cherry, and cranberry, with a smoked meat finish are interwoven in the palate architecture. The full-bodied tannins are reminiscent of Oolong tea. Polished and balanced, the wine’s texture is superb and highlights the best of what Pinot Noir can be. Previous vintage scores: 93pts Wine Enthusiast, 93pts Vinous, 92pts Wine and Spirits
Happy hunting!!
