WILLOWBROOK
2015 "Kaufman Vineyard" Pinot Noir
Sonoma Mountain

99 Points
Best of Class, Best of Region Red
Double Gold Medal - California State Fair

Planted to grapevines in 1994 (originally Merlot but soon after grafted to Pinot noir), this six acre parcel sits on the cooler north side of the prestigious Sonoma Mountain AVA. Owned by Jim and Sue Kaufman, Willowbrook has been producing single vineyard wines from this renowned site since 2008. It is planted to two clones, of which Willowbrook takes the Dijon 777 clone.

This beautiful hillside vineyard, with impressive views, benefits from consistent daytime sunshine but with heat moderated by the influence of the marine layer coming through the Petaluma Wind Gap, allowing the fruit to develop fully with little risk of sunburn, producing consistently ripe brix, low pH and excellent skin color: Willowbrook’s Kaufman Sunnyslope Pinots have great aging potential and long finishes.

The 2015 Willowbrook Kaufman Vineyard Pinot Noir is deep ruby in color, and loaded with aromas of cassis and sandalwood. On the palate the wine offers abundant and interwoven flavors of dark cherry, tobacco and allspice. The subtly smooth mouthfeel leads to a well-focused finish of complex, nutty tannins and gentle acidity. For those that know how important terroir is to Pinot, this wine beautifully shows off Sonoma Mountain's unique character.

Vintage:  2015
Appellation: Sonoma Mountain, Sonoma County
Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation:  French Oak Barrels
Alcohol %:  14.4

Tasting Notes  PDF

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Willowbrook started in 2001 as a dream of winemaker, Joe Otos, then 26 years old. This dream became reality after he teamed up with retired technology executives, John Tracy and Ed Sillari. Sillari and Tracy had recently moved to the wine country and had begun separately to explore opportunities to pursue their passion for wine. Sillari was involved in wine sales and Tracy had acquired a hilltop vineyard in Forestville. Their combined experiences were all the pieces needed to get Willowbrook Cellars started.

During the first few years production was limited to about 500 cases split between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Willowbrook began to increase its production of vineyard designate wines; seeking out interesting small vineyards each with its own microclimate and flavor profile.

Willowbrook Cellars wines may be found in gourmet restaurants and in specialty wine stores, but because of the small case production, most of the sales have been generated by word of mouth.

Learn more at www.willowbrookcellars.com.

As a reminder, due to legal restrictions on shipments of wine and other alcoholic beverages, we are only permitted to ship to the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.