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
94 Points
Decadent, rich, and supple. Aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, crushed stone, dried herbs, and cedar lead into layered notes of cassis, fennel, baked plums, mocha powder, and cigars dusted with roasted Herbs de Provence, earth and red volcanic mineral notes. Full-bodied and rich, with a firm spine of racy acidity and ultra-fine, gravelly tannins that carry the lasting, mouthwatering finish.
93 Points
Aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum, and cedar unfold alongside soft notes of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, structured tannins frame layers of black cherry, baking spice, and a subtle herbal lift from the Merlot blended beneath the Cabernet's backbone. Medium-bodied gem with good concentration finishing long and warm, with lingering impressions of cocoa and dried fig.
94 Points
A full-throttle, blackberry-driven red, laden with chalky minerality and layered with robust tannins. Violet scents mingle with fig and plum fruit in a medium- to full-bodied expression that hits all the right chords, delivering a pleasing one-two punch to the senses.
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