Gold Medal - Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Pinot Noir from the stellar (and just entering its prime drinking window) 2007 vintage? Small, family owned winery scoring awards left and right while flying a little under the radar? Organically grown, minimally processed, vineyard driven wine? An unbelievable price? Yep, sounds like another WineHeist! This 2007 Willowbrook Estate Pinot Noir, from a hilltop vineyard in the Russian River Valley was our first taste from this producer, and we were blown away. Winemaker Joe Otos founded Willowbrook in 2007 when he was just 26 years old, and if this wine is any indication it was a vey wise decision to strike out on his own. Willowbrook is slowly expanding their production to include new bottlings of small lots of wine, and it will be exciting to follow the growth of this up and coming producer.
The 2007 Willowbrook Estate Pinot Noir is a light cranberry red color, with a hint of garnet. The nose is classic Russian River Pinot, with aromas of cherry, raspberry, blueberry, candied cranberry and violets. The palate is light and bright with Bing cherry, briar, and sweet cranberry flavors and a long, mocha finish. All this bright, fresh, lively fruit is perfectly balanced by just enough oak to add structure and length. This is a wonderful example of a Pinot Noir that finds a comfortable middle ground between the tart, lean European style and the candied, full throttle, and some might say, over-ripe, style sometimes found in California Pinot. Here there is a beautiful balance between all of the components in the wine, resulting in a wine with plenty of flavor that will pair with a wide variety of foods. With good California frequently pushing $50 or even $60 and up, at a WineHeist price of just $28 this is a huge bargain. Load up on this one and enjoy over the next 2-3 years!
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Sugar: 0.56 g/L
Fermentation: French Oak
Alcohol %: 14.3
You may also like:
94 Points
Deep red-purple with aromas of black currents, blackberry, plum, chocolate, earthy forest floor, licorice, graphite, and subtle floral notes of violet, spice and cracked pepper. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry fruit with notes of earth, firm acid and silky tannins. Finishes big with blackberry fruit and peppery spice.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes out right of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
93 Points
Dark fruit with blueberry fruit aromas and notes of mocha and cassis. The texture is silky, rich and mouth-filling with berry pie, black tea, exotic spice and notes of chocolate fudge on the palate. Fine grain tannins lengthen the finish with dark fruit flavors mingling with just a hint of mint.
90 Points
Deep garnet in color, with enticing aromas of brandied cherry, lavender, and forest floor. The palate is juicy and engaging with blueberries coursing through with depth and keeps you running back for more. Pure and balanced with perfect levels of acidity with notes of salted caramel, and cocoa. It's ripe silky tannins lead to a long supple finish that just keeps on giving.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
PDF