2011 Willowbrook Cellars Pinot Noir
Carneros, Sonoma County

Fruit for this wine was sourced from the south western corner of the Carneros region which overlooks San Pablo Bay. This area is notorious for its extreme winds and moderate afternoon sun and temperatures.  Grapes receive extra hang time to develop rich flavors and intense aromas.

Hand-picked and hand-sorted in the beginning of October, 2011. It was then gently crushed and fermented in small open top tanks. The ferment was a long cool ferment with temperatures maxing out at about 82 degrees with the cap being manually punched down 3 times a day. The wine was then aged for 15 months in French oak barrels.

The 2011 Carneros Pinot Noir offers a fruit forward nose of spicy rich black cherries & raspberries with a hint of that classic Carneros nose of fresh early morning forest.  The mouth feel offers complex vibrant flavors of raspberries and strawberries along with more cherries.  The wonderful long lingering slightly spicy finish keeps you coming back for more. This delightful medium-bodied wine was made to drink now or cellar for the next 3-5 years.  It pairs well with gourmet picnic foods and cheeses or may be the served with the main course of fine dining such as roasted duck or handmade pasta.

Vintage:  2011
Varietal:  Pinot Nor
Appellation:  Carneros, Sonoma County
Fermentation:  French Oak
Alcohol: 14.4%

Tasting Notes  PDF

About The Winery...

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.

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