Fall 2014 Release

Our motto at Williams Selyem has long been our guiding force. In our last letter, we celebrated how we thank and honor our stellar growers for the dedication and attention to detail they apply to their craft. In this newsletter, we want to recognize the enormous contributions of our own colleagues who farm our Drake Estate Vineyard, Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard, our recently purchased Eastside Estate Vineyard and the Vista Verde Vineyard in San Benito County.

In Sonoma County, John Dyson, a Cornell trained viticulturalist and very proud Ag College graduate, has worked with Chris Bowland for over 12 years. Over the years, lively discussions over rootstocks, clones, trellis designs, and vine spacing have ensued much to the benefit of our home-grown grapes and our pride in the wines our Estate vineyards produce. Though Chris owns and runs his own business, Bowland Vineyard Management, and is not a Williams Selyem employee, he is a key part of our family.

It was not always like this at Williams Selyem. When John and Kathe bought the winery, Burt and Ed excelled in purchasing the BEST GRAPES, but owned no vineyards directly. While treasuring their relationships, and now ours, with the remarkably talented and pioneering BEST GROWERS like Joe Rochioli, Helen and Charles Bacigalupi, Howie Allen, Donnie Schatzberg and Bill Weir, John believes that a stand out brand like Williams Selyem should own and grow half of its own fruit — “excellence from the ground to the glass”, as John says.

This philosophy led to the acquisition of the Drake Estate Vineyard in 1998, then an apple orchard. The next purchase was made in 2001 and is the Estate property on which the Williams Selyem Winery stands, the former Litton Ranch. Finally, the property located on the eastside of the Russian River, almost directly opposite to our winery on Westside Road. Chris Bowland has applied his considerable talents to the planting, cultivation and careful nurturing of our vines in these premier Sonoma County sites. The most recent, the Eastside Estate, was a fortunate purchase as it has the pedigree of the neighboring Calegari, Foss and Lone Oak Vineyards in the special Russian River climate on the eastside of the river.

This year we will release Luella’s Garden, an Estate grown Pinot Noir named for the original owner of our Westside Road vineyard, Luella Litton. It will join our Block 10 Mass Selection Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir and the Vista Verde Chenin Blanc in our lineup of special wines that can be tasted and purchased only at the winery. Come visit us and enjoy our outdoor tasting salon and special places on our terrace. The views will enchant you.

At the Vista Verde Vineyard, near the town of Hollister on the Central Coast, where John began growing grapes in 1990 (having learned the hard way in the New York climate), Miguel Alvarado helps John just as Chris does in Sonoma County. You may have tasted our Central Coast or Vista Verde bottlings from this spectacularly beautiful ranch. With its high limestone soils and temperate climate, Miguel grows a series of clones to peak ripeness for Williams Selyem.

7227 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 T 707.433.6425 F 707.431.4862 contact@williamsselyem.comwww.williamsselyem.com

Chris Bowland

Our Missionmake the best wines from the best grapes from the best growers

Miguel AlvaradoContinued on back

2012 Bucher Vineyard $59RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 13.9% ALC.

Raspberry and strawberry flavors intermingle with subtle hints of vanilla, leather and earth. Aromas of rose petals emerge after some time in the glass. Flavors of smoked meats, nutmeg and coffee round out the elegant tannin profile. The clonal mix of Swan, Pommard, Mt. Eden and Jackson continue to produce wines of a dynamic nature.

2012 Peay Vineyard $59SONOMA COAST 14.2% ALC.

2012 marks the last vintage for the Williams Selyem Peay Vineyard Pinot Noir. The bright cherry and wild herb notes capture the essence of this cool climate site on the coastal ridgeline. The cherry notes carry through onto the palate and finish with a subtle mineral note that is typical of the site.

2012 Burt Williams’ Morning Dew Ranch $78ANDERSON VALLEY 14.1% ALC.

Located in the far end of the Anderson Valley, referred to as the “deep end”, Burt Williams’ Morning Dew Ranch sits in an ideal cool climate location for Pinot Noir. This is a highly expressive wine, rich in aromatics with notes of pomegranate, orange, allspice and vanilla. Additional layers of ginger, pencil lead and minerals complete the intense profile. Round and supple in the mouth, the seamless acidity carries the flavors and the fine grained tannins effortlessly into the long finish. This is another impressive vintage from Burt Williams’ Morning Dew Ranch, which will improve with an additional 7-10 years of aging.

2012 Allen Vineyard $82RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.4% ALC.

The 2012 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir is another blockbuster wine. Aromas and flavors of strawberry and red cherry are lifted with lively notes of fresh roses. Round at the entry, the tannins build on the palate and finish with notes of pencil lead and mineral.

2012 Precious Mountain Vineyard $95SONOMA COAST 13.6% ALC.

Bright berry and cherry notes with elements of underbrush are highlighted in this elegant Pinot Noir. The finish is long with a gravelly, mineral-like texture giving this wine a true Sonoma Coast profile.

ElegantOne of the most frequently asked questions during the

release is, “which wines should I purchase”? Well, all of

them of course! We realize that there are many wines to

choose from and you may not have tried all of them. In

order to better guide you, we have organized the Pinot

Noirs by what we call ‘weight’, which refers to the struc-

ture of the wine. All of our Pinot Noirs are made in the

traditional Williams Selyem style, but within that frame-

work there is a range from elegant to well-structured to

full-bodied.

If you are particularly fond a specific wine, such as the

Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir, then there is a good chance

you’ll also like the other Pinot Noirs that we’ve character-

ized as similar, like the Burt Williams Morning Dew

Ranch and the Peay Vineyard. These elegant wines often

share the same characteristics of delicate red fruit with

flavors of cherry and raspberry.

If Rochioli is your favorite then try the Ferrington Vine-

yard or Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noirs. These

well-structured wines exhibit a slightly riper fruit profile

tending towards dark cherry and blackberry.

And, if Coastlands is at the top of your list then the

Hirsch Vineyard and the Williams Selyem Estate Vine-

yard Pinot Noir will be good choices. These full-bodied

wines show more black fruit than red, usually with a hint

of earthy mushroom and herbs.

Of course, we all know that this is a subjective matter and

not all palates will completely agree with these sugges-

tions. We encourage you to share your tasting notes at:

www.williamsselyem.mobi

Picking aPinot choosing your perfect wine

PINOT NOIR

2012 Calegari Vineyard $55RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.1% ALC.

The second vintage from the Calegari Vineyard offers an array of red cherry, cranberry and red raspberry aromas, while red rose, sassafras and cinnamon burst from the glass. The juicy acidity is coupled with a silky, tea-like finish that lingers on the palate. A component of the Eastside Road Neighbors since 2008, this second vintage of the Calegari Vineyard Pinot Noir is a classic example of Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley.

2012 Vista Verde Vineyard $58SAN BENITO COUNTY 13.8% ALC.

Deep berry notes intertwined with plum and crushed raspberries jump from the glass, while flavors of vanilla and nutmeg help complete the aromatic profile. This wine has wonderful mouthfeel, which gives way to a refreshing acidity with hints of spice and mandarin orange on the mid-palate. A lifted note of fresh rose petals with underlying chalky minerality and mocha round out this complex wine.

2012 Weir Vineyard $58YORKVILLE HIGHLANDS 13.8% ALC.

A splendid display of dark fruits, including Bing cherry, crushed blackberry and mountain strawberry explode from the glass. The fruit profile is balanced with notes of lavender, vanilla bean, cinnamon and crushed rocks. The texture has a wonderful grip, which gives way to cherry pie and citrus flavors that linger on the palate. The finish is persistent with elements of spice, mineral and bittersweet chocolate. The 2012 Weir is a blockbuster Pinot Noir which is approachable in its youth but can also be enjoyed in years to come.

2012 Ferrington Vineyard $65ANDERSON VALLEY 13.9% ALC.

The brilliant color and dark fruit profile of the Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir is a superb example of Pinot Noir from the Boonville area in Anderson Valley. Bing cherry and raspberry, along with floral notes and dried herbs intermingle on the nose and palate to create a vibrant wine. Elements of mineral, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla add to the dynamic profile. The Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir retains a refreshing acidity, while displaying firm tannins. Hints of coffee nibs add to the lingering finish.

2012 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard $79RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 13.9% ALC.

Alluring Bing cherry and vanilla immediately jump from the glass but give way to deeper notes of smoked meats, grilled herbs and minerals. The 2012 Rochioli Riverblock Pinot Noir shows intensity on the palate that is nearly unmatched in the Russian River Valley, though the wine manages to retain a sense of restraint with its elegant, silky tannins and long finish. This vintage is a classic in the making and can be cellared for 7-10 years.

2012 Eastside Road Neighbors $52RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 13.7% ALC.

Blended from unique sites along the Eastside Road ridgeline above the Russian River, the Eastside Road Neighbors offers an explosion of fruit on the nose and palate. On the nose, notes of blackberry, black cherry, mulberry and dried rose petals mix with subtle notes of sarsaparilla root. Round at the entry, blackberry and anise complete each sip, with hints of vanilla bean and wood spices on the finish. The excellent weight and balanced acidity gives a wonderful shape on the palate. This vintage can be enjoyed in its youth because of its lively nature but will age well and develop even more secondary aromas and flavors in years to come.

2012 Foss Vineyard $55RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.2% ALC.

Deep, rich elements of blackberry and black cherry comingle with hints of lavender, nutmeg, allspice and sandalwood in this second offering from the Foss Vineyard. While plush and round on the palate, the fresh acidity carries on through the mid-palate and gives length to the wine’s chocolaty tannins. Vanilla and baking spices complete the profile of this wonderfully rich wine.

2012 Coastlands Vineyard $75SONOMA COAST 13.9% ALC.

High above the town of Occidental on the Coast Range, the Coast-lands Vineyard is influenced by ocean fog and cool breezes. The results are compelling, offering diverse aromatics and flavors. Deep in color, notes of black cherry, tree bark and sandalwood rise from the glass while nutmeg and other wood spices contribute to the complexity of this wine. The refined tannins make for a round, plush wine with a lift of acidity to maintain the focus — a truly unique site which produces a very small amount of fruit.

2012 Hirsch Vineyard $78SONOMA COAST 13.8% ALC.

Wild herbs and dark berries permeate the nose of the 2012 Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir. Chinese five-spice and black tea complete the exotic aromatic profile. Powerful on the palate with intense berry and herb flavors, this wine remains lithe as it is tempered by a fresh-ness of orange and citrus peel. Minerals on the finish give the palate a dramatic punctuation.

2012 Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard $105RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.1% ALC.

Bing cherry and cinnamon surge from the glass in this quintessential offering of Pinot Noir from our Estate vineyard. Blended primarily from Swan, Mt. Eden and Pommard clones, this wine offers a complex array of aromas and flavors. With aeration, additional notes of carda-mom and fennel seed emerge and juicy fine-grained tannins meld into a cocoa powder-like finish on the palate. This is a wine that can be enjoyed now but will develop with another 7-10 years of aging.

Medium-Bodied Full -Bodied

CHARDONNAY

2012 Allen Vineyard $55RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.4% ALC.

The 2012 growing season produced yet another classic Chardonnay from the Allen Vineyard. Apple and baking spices give way to notes of pear and quince, while white flowers add to the profile of this highly expressive wine. The palate delivers as well, with flavors of yellow apple, pear, nutmeg and subtle hints of vanilla. The long mineral finish punctuates this compelling offering. Enjoy with crab and lobster dishes.

2012 Drake Estate Vineyard $65RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.5% ALC.

Meyer lemon and white nectarine notes comingle with fresh floral aromatics in the glass, while citrus peel and stone fruit characteristics are carried through the finish by a focused acidity. The texture of this Chardonnay is rich and opulent, making the 2012 a truly compelling vintage from Drake Estate Vineyard.

ZINFANDEL

2012 Bacigalupi Vineyard $55RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 14.8% ALC.

The revered Bacigalupi Vineyard produces an archetypal Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley. On the nose, boysenberry and blackberry notes intermingle with star anise and allspice notes. In the mouth, the flavors explode with a rich gamut of red and black fruits. The acidity is refreshing and gives focus to this incredibly rich Zinfandel.

PORT

2009 Vista Verde Vineyard $40/375mlSAN BENITO COUNTY 20.0% ALC.

Portuguese varieties – Touriga National, Tinta Cao, Tinta Francesca and Tinta Madeira – were used to create this Port in the traditional style. Elements of violet, blackberry compote and cassis emerge from the glass in this exciting offering from our Vista Verde Vineyard. Clove, star anise and tamari intermingle with elements of bittersweet chocolate and Marcona almonds on the dynamic nose. As with traditional Ports, this wine will benefit from long-term aging.

A Noteon the 2012 vintage

Simply put the 2012 vintage was extraordinary in all respects. After the cool growing seasons of 2010 and 2011, which resulted in excellent quality but very low yields, Mother Nature was smiling on us in 2012 with superb growing conditions and a bountiful harvest. From the cold regions of the Sonoma Coast to the Anderson Valley to the Russian River Valley it was truly an extraordinary year. The resultant wines have beautiful, bright aromatics with supple tannins and refreshing acidities. A vintage like this, where everything comes together perfectly is rare and will certainly be a vintage to enjoy for many, many years to come!

With slightly below average rainfall for the season, the timing of the rainfall during the winter months was adequate to allow for good soil penetration. With record setting highs in the middle of February, the onset of bud break was a bit on the early side. In general, bud break started the first week of March in the Russian River Valley and

mid-April at the Coast and other colder micro-climates.

The exceptional weather in 2012 during the spring allowed for good, moderate vegetative growth, superb flowering conditions and an above average fruit set and yield. Flowering began around the 3rd week of May in the Russian River Valley and was more than 50% complete by early June. There was a trace of rain on June 4th but that did not affect the remainder of flowering nor the subsequent fruit set.

In the days and weeks following fruit set, it became apparent that berries and clusters were sizing up beyond original expectations. Cluster thinning proceeded based on these estimates which, in turn, balanced the crop load and allowed for even ripening of the remaining fruit. Verasion started in early August and finished under very ideal weather conditions. Due to the dry conditions during this time, mold pressure was of little or no significance and as a consequence, the integrity of the fruit was absolutely pristine.

Harvest commenced on August 31st at the Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard and continued steadily through September at an even and methodical pace, finishing on October 6th with the far coastal vineyards. 2012 was a vintage where ripe and mature stem, seed and skin tannins were achieved and were harmoniously balanced with the natural acidity. Enveloped with pure and intense aromas and flavors and richly textured and structured wines, the results are clearly evident, 2012 is truly an extraordinary vintage.

These two exceptional and exacting growers apply science, experience, passion and dedication to doing what is needed, when it is needed to achieve the BEST GRAPES. We’d like to acknowledge and thank them for all they do to provide half of our total grape crop — a large share of the BEST GRAPES in our motto. They rank among our BEST GROWERS, for sure.

Of course, this year at our Annual Growers’ Harvest party we will also recognize one of our special and long-time growers — we are so lucky to have such amazing relationships with the BEST GROWERS. They provide us with an enticingly wide variety of choice sites, which are reflected in our vineyard designate wines.

We’ve talked about the BEST GRAPES and the BEST GROWERS and now a here’s a bit about the BEST WINES part of our motto. As you’ve probably heard, 2012 is a tremendous vintage with exceptional wines across the board. From what we can tell so far, 2014 is shaping up to be an amazing vintage as well. The year started out warm and dry and it appears (at the time of writing) that we are headed for our earliest harvest ever. It’s going to be another incredible vintage and we’ll look forward to sharing the product of this harvest with you in 2016!

Cheers from all of us at Williams Selyem!

SEPTEMBER 7Close of Release

MID OCTOBERShipping Begins

(weather permitting)

OCTOBER 24-26Pickup Weekend Event at

Williams Selyem Estate Winery

OCT. 27 - NOV. 7Pickups by appointment at

Williams Selyem Estate Winery(unclaimed wine will be

shipped on November 11)

OCT. 31 - NOV. 2Pickup Weekend Event

at Millbrook Winery in NY

CONTACT USwww.williamsselyem.com

contact@williamsselyem.comPhone: 707-433-6425

Fax: 707-431-4862

These two exceptional and exacting growers apply science, experience, passion and dedication to doing what is needed, when it is needed to achieve the BEST GRAPES. We’d like to acknowledge and thank them for all they do to provide half of our total grape crop — a large share of the BEST GRAPES in our motto. They rank among our BEST GROWERS, for sure.

Of course, this year at our Annual Growers’ Harvest party we will also recognize one of our special and long-time growers — we are so lucky to have such amazing relationships with the BEST GROWERS. They provide us with an enticingly wide variety of choice sites, which are reflected in our vineyard designate wines.

We’ve talked about the BEST GRAPES and the BEST GROWERS and now a here’s a bit about the BEST WINES part of our motto. As you’ve probably heard, 2012 is a tremendous vintage with exceptional wines across the board. From what we can tell so far, 2014 is shaping up to be an amazing vintage as well. The year started out warm and dry and it appears (at the time of writing) that we are headed for our earliest harvest ever. It’s going to be another incredible vintage and we’ll look forward to sharing the product of this harvest with you in 2016!

Cheers from all of us at Williams Selyem!

ImportantDates

SEPTEMBER 7Close of Release

MID OCTOBERShipping Begins

(weather permitting)

OCTOBER 24-26Pickup Weekend Event at

Williams Selyem Estate Winery

OCT. 27 - NOV. 7Pickups by appointment at

Williams Selyem Estate Winery(unclaimed wine will be

shipped on November 11)

OCT. 31 - NOV. 2Pickup Weekend Event

at Millbrook Winery in NY

CONTACT USwww.williamsselyem.com

contact@williamsselyem.comPhone: 707-433-6425

Fax: 707-431-4862

Continued from page 1

John Dyson

• Online ordering is strongly encouraged! To access your allocation through the website, log in with the User ID and encrypted Password printed on your order form.

• Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Allocations are not guaranteed; they represent the number of bottles available to you until the wine sells out (which is often before the last day to order). Please place your order as soon as possible for best order fulfillment.

• For bottles beyond your allocation, please use the wish list column. These requests will be filled, if possible, after the close of the release on September 7. You do not need to include payment for wish list wines; we will charge or invoice your account later if the request is filled.

• While online ordering is strongly encouraged, you may fax your completed order form to (707) 431-4862. If paying by check, please send via mail to 7227 Westside Rd, Healdsburg CA 95448

• Order confirmations will be sent via email. Please verify your address!• Faxed or mailed orders submitted without written payment will not be filled; phone and email orders

are not accepted.

Ordering

• Wines will begin shipping in mid October, weather permitting.• Some states do not permit direct wine shipments, or they may limit the amount of wine we can ship to

you. Please see the back of your order form for more details and shipping/handling fees.• We require a shipping address where there is someone over 21 years of age available to sign for the

package during regular business hours.

Shipping

CALIFORNIA

• If you intend to pick up your wine at Williams Selyem Winery, select the “CA Pickup” option on your order.• Our Fall 2014 Pickup Weekend will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 24-26, from 10:00 AM to

4:00 PM, at 7227 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448• Winery pickups are available at Williams Selyem from October 27-November 7 between 10:00 AM and

3:00 PM. Please call or email at least one day in advance to schedule a pickup date: (707) 433-6425 or contact@williamsselyem.com

• Orders not picked up by Friday, November 7 will be shipped at the customer’s expense to the billing address on file on Tuesday, November 11.

• If you would like All Ways Cool (707) 545-7450 or 55 Degrees (707) 963-5513, or Fitch Mountain* (707) 433-1247 to receive the order on your behalf, you must establish an account and coordinate shipment with that company directly. (*No account required, only prior arrangements with Fitch Mountain needed)

NEW YORK

• If you intend to pick up your wine at Millbrook Winery, select the “NY Pickup” option on your order.• Fall Pickup Weekend at Millbrook Winery will be October 31-November 2.• Daily winery pickups are available November 3-November 30 between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, no

appointment necessary. 26 Wing Road, Millbrook, NY 12545, (845) 662-WINE ext. 21, millbrookwinery@millwine.com, www.millbrookwine.com.

WinePickup