Winemaker Notes Vivier Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is generous, expressive and begging to be drunk! It has deep aromas of pomegranate, red cherries and blueberries with nuances of garrigue, Angostura bitters and orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is softly chalky and fresh, full of voluptuous, spicy fruit, with pretty botanical accents on the long finish. About Winery Winemaker Stephané grew up in Meloisey, Burgundy in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. He learned from a 70-year-old winegrower in Pommard. He obtained advanced degrees in viticulture and enology from Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, and subsequently worked in Switzerland, Sonoma and New Zealand. He was attracted to American vineyards where winemakers were not bound by tradition or AOC restrictions. The winery was designed and developed to accommodate every aspect of de Villaine's winemaking philosophy of minimal intervention. Aubert de Villaine, former Co-Director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, married Larry Hyde’s cousin, Pamela, bringing the two families together. To Stéphane, the best winemaker is one that largely keeps his hands to himself, allowing the alchemy of nature to do what it does best. He thinks of himself as a lazy winemaker, in the best sense that the wine is made in the vineyard and the winemakers best skill is staying out of the way of the fruit’s expression in the cellar. Today, Vivier is one of the United States’ most noted practitioners of the art of Pinot Noir.

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2023 | VIVINO 4.2 WF2 wines show the fresh, approachable character of our estate vineyard.  Blended from barrels chosen for their liveliness, generous fruit, supple texture and less new oak influence, these wines are perfect for enjoying young while waiting for your Wayfarer wines to age. They possess a true sense of place, outstanding quality and exceptional value. About Winery Wayfarer is the manifestation of a remarkable place, masterful winemaking, and the drive to go to extremes to create something truly exceptional. After nearly 30 years as an acclaimed Napa Valley vintner, Jayson Pahlmeyer became increasingly entranced by the wines of Burgundy. “Every oenophile eventually gravitates to the wines of Burgundy,” he says. In the early 1990s, Jayson began seeking out the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the world. A close friend, legendary French wine importer Martine Saunier, had located two parcels for sale in Burgundy – Clos de la Roche, a Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyard in Côte de Nuits Grand Cru, and Corton Vergennes, a Grand Cru Chardonnay vineyard in Corton. His winemaker, Helen Turley, was to make the wine with the hands-on assistance of the renowned Michel Niellon at his Chassagne-Montrachet winery. However, just after the papers were signed, the deal was nullified by an obscure Burgundian real estate clause that permitted last-minute alternative offers. Though these iconic vineyards faded from his dreams, Jayson knew that, eventually, the perfect site would present itself. He just didn’t realize it would be six years later in the remote hills of the Sonoma Coast at a small farm called Wayfarer.

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2022 | W 94 Bright, sunshine energy here. Lifted citrus and white flower aromas dominate the nose. The palate vibrates with lemon, tangerine, nectarine and orange blossom flavors that linger and mingle across the finish, with a whisper of barrel spice emerging at the end.  2023 | VIVINO 4.4 Spiced notes of Meyer lemon peel along with scents of yellow apple and pear typify this wine. Hints of shiso and tarragon show the cool climate of the Drake Vineyard. Located in the far west region of the Russian River Valley, the ripening of this Chardonnay is slow and methodical, allowing for complexity to be achieved. The entry is weighty, and the wine has incredible saltiness, with a saline character that transitions to minerals on the finish. Green pear flavors accompany hints of tangerine along with a spicy Meyer lemon peel sensation. 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.

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No. 4 on Wine Spectator Top 100  2015 | WE 95 ETA June '26 This multi-vineyard wine is sourced from hillside sites on the eastern edges of the appellation, including Foss and Calegari vineyards. Perfumed in clove and other baking spice tones, it has beautiful aromatics and ripe, firm tannins. The palate is marked by flavors of plum, rhubarb and cherry clafouti. 2016 | WA 93 ETA June '26 The 2016 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and scents of stewed black tea leaves, tree bark, warm black cherries, mixed berry preserves, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and notes of citrus peel with red fruit sparks at the core—this is wonderfully spicy and smells like the holidays! Light to medium-bodied, it offers great intensity of flavor layers in the mouth with finely dispersed, grainy tannins and fantastic juicy acidity, finishing very long and layered. 1,226 cases produced. 2020 | VIVINO 4.5 A knockout nose of berry fruits and sassafras jump from the glass in this terrific offering from the eastern hills above the Russian River. Notes of Asian spices, fennel, and a hint of earthiness are woven together with the fruit elements to create a multifaceted aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is equally as complex, with berry fruits flavors and the zing of zesty tangerine peel. With robust tannins on the palate, the 2020 Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir is buffered by rich fruit character and an earthy complexion that finishes with a weighty minerality. Winemaker Notes A knockout nose of berry fruits and sassafras jump from the glass in this terrific offering from the eastern hills above the Russian River. Notes of Asian spices, fennel, and a hint of earthiness are woven together with the fruit elements to create a multifaceted aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is equally as complex, with berry fruits flavors and the zing of zesty tangerine peel. With robust tannins on the palate, the 2020 Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir is buffered by rich fruit character and an earthy complexion that finishes with a weighty minerality. About Winery Wines worth the wait.Burt Williams and Ed Selyem started their winery in the Russian River Valley with two lofty goals: to craft wines that set the standard for excellence and to come to know and serve their customers personally. We continue to serve those goals today, committing to do whatever is necessary. Extra time, extra effort, extra manpower, less sleep, a near-fanatical attention to detail… if it contributes to the quality of our wines and service, it’s worth it. The number of cases we produce is based purely on how much outstanding wine we can coax out of our grapes, and that amount will vary, from vineyard to vineyard, season to season. Processed with minimal interference.From fermentation to bottling, our methods do not include pumping, filtering or other processes that could unsettle or compromise the quality of our wine. We’ve learned over the years: Never rush our grapes. Respect the grapes and the wines will always reward your efforts. It’s all about the details.We are fanatical about details and it’s fanaticism you can taste. Each tiny individual piece of our process adds to the quality of our wines,from the old-world methods of foot treading the grapes (in very clean fishing waders!); to punching down tanks every 6 hours; to manning the bottling lines; each one done to the best of our abilities, to make the best wine possible Williams & Selyem, LLC produces and sells wines. It offers pinot noir, chardonnay, zinfandel, and late harvest wines. Williams & Selyem, LLC was formerly known as Hacienda del Rio and changed its name to Williams & Selyem, LLC in 1983.  

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2023 | JS 96 A classic, earthy and savory wine with aromas of wild berries, forest and bramble fruit. The palate is mineral driven, with herb and ripe berry flavors, fresh acidity and mouth-coating tannins. The finish shows pleasing orange zest notes. Medium-bodied.   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.

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2021 | JS 94 The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard, matured for 16 months in 69% new oak, is bursting with scents of pomegranate and raspberry preserves, orange peel, licorice, allspice and earth. Medium-bodied and powerful, the palate features concentrated, hedonistic flavors. It has a surprisingly elegant structure of silky tannins and bright acidity and boasts a long, perfumed finish.  2022 | JS 96 This tastes so pure and polished, concentrated but refined. Goes deep in pretty red cherries, black cherries, blackcurrants, spearmint and cocoa. Made from a blend of Pommard, Swan and Mt. Eden clones. Medium-bodied, focused and well balanced by acidity and moderate tannins. 2023 | WE 93 Nimble and playful aromas of raspberry coulis, rose petal and shiitake bounce around the glass on the nose of this Pinot. The palate brings flavors of concentrated cherry, cedar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and orange peel that vibrate on the finish   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.

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2023 | WE 94 This clean and unoaked Chardonnay brings some tropical energy on the nose, with aromas of tart pineapple, mixed citrus and nectarine swirling. The palate is acid-driven and laser focused, with flavors of zippy lemon, fresh green herb mélange and lemon blossoms echoing across the finish 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.

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2014 | WA 94 This blend of 99.5% Cabernet and 0.5% Petit Verdot reminds us of berry compote on first smell. It is confident and dense as it coats your palate. Rich mocha flavors and pointed scents of spice fill the center of the wine. The tannins are fine and slightly chewy. This wine will age beautifully for years. About Winery Zeitgeist Cellars is a collaboration between husband and wife, Mark Porembski (winemaker at Anomaly Vineyards and Lost Cellars) and Jennifer Williams (former winemaker at Spottswoode Estate and current winemaker at Arrow&Branch and Ziata). We make the wine ourselves at Behrens Family Winery. In pursuit of fine wine at fair prices, we employ conscientious selection at each step while doing the work ourselves. We’ve committed to a handful of carefully chosen vineyards, sort vigilantly through the fruit at harvest, and bottle only the best barrels. Our goal is to be thoughtful in our approach and simple in our methods. We make each exceptionally small batch of wine ourselves and guide them carefully through fermentation and aging. The results are two beautiful Heritage white varietals and a small stable of excellent Cabernet Sauvignons.

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