2008 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
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International Wine Cellar | Rating: 90
Deep red. Vibrant aromas of raspberry, spicecake and white pepper, with building florality. Sappy and sweet, with palate-caressing red and dark berry preserve flavors and good spicy snap. The floral quality repeats on the long, juicy finish, adding an exotic touch. This is already drinking well.Author: Josh RaynoldsIssue: May/Jun 10Wine Spectator | Rating: 90
Shows a smoky, baconlike charry richness, with loamy earth and dried berry. -- Kosta Browne non-blind vertical (March 2011). Drink now through 2018. 3,554 cases made.Drink Dates: 2011-2018Author: James Laube
Self | Rating: 4
Author: Rick H.Self | Rating: 5
Author: A HowellsSelf | Rating: 9.5
Author: MusubiSelf | Rating: 92
Author: GiantDolphanSelf | Rating: 93
Author: cpcollitonSelf | Rating: 93
Author: Southbound UnionSelf | Rating: 93
Author: TrinaSelf | Rating: 93
Author: WombatSelf | Rating: 92
Drink Dates: 2010-2015Author: LawrenceSelf | Rating: 94
Drink Dates: 2011-2017Author: CBS WineSelf | Rating: 94
Believe the hype. This was one of the most interesting Pinots I've ever had. The nose was a little tight at first, but with some aeration it opened up to show lovely notes of caramel, vanilla, tobacco, smoke, and a heavy dose of leather. On the palate the wine was fairly light and tasted of dried red fruits and plum. Every time I went back for more, this wine showed me something new. Excellent. Could probably be decanted for an hour or so before drinking, but we couldn't stand the wait, so we dove right in and we weren't disappointed.Drink Dates: 2012-2020Author: tastarkSelf | Rating: 92
Nice berry.cola spice blend but the end could use some more time to develop. Will wait until late October or later to open next bottle.Author: Lisa P637Self | Rating: 92
Obvious sign of the effects of the summer fires in CA in this wine. Despite the smokey flavor, there was still plenty of good fruit underneath. Cherries, chocolate, and red fruits present.Author: Maxcontinuous
See other similar producers:Siduri,Williams Selyem Winery,Zepaltas Wines
California is the heartland of wine production in the US, and the state that brought prestige to American wine thanks to the pioneers who built early wineries like Staglin, Beringer, Ridge, Mayacamas and Chateau Montelena in the 1800s. Its large geographic area ensures a great diversity in growing sites, varieties grown, and quality levels. Generalizations about the state's wines have numerous exceptions; however, a few key facts generally hold true—ample sunshine, dry weather during the growing season, and moderate winters prevail. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to dominate the state's production—albeit in continually smaller percentages, as growers continue to diversify. More than 100 different varieties can be found throughout the state.
Pinot Noir is a delicate, thin-skinned grape that is notoriously difficult to grow but unmatched in its ability to reflect its terroir. It is early-budding and early-ripening, and thus requires a cool climate. To achieve its best expression and maintain its delicate flavor profile, Pinot Noir demands great care in the vineyard, particular attention to yield management, and careful handling in the winery. Growers blessed with the patience, skill, and terroir to produce world-class Pinot Noir are greatly rewarded. Not only are these wines complex, age-worthy, and delicious, they also command some of the world’s highest prices.
Old-World Pinot Noir most famously hails from Burgundy, where it is the only red variety permitted in the region. Techniques such as whole-bunch fermentation and barrel ageing, now common amongst high-quality Pinot Noir producers around the world, were pioneered by Burgundian winemakers. Age-worthy Pinot Noir from Burgundy tends to be high in acid, display low to medium tannins, and have red fruit flavors in youth that evolve into complex flavors of earth, game, cola, and truffle with age. Some of the most famous producers include Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Comte de Vogüé, Domaine Leroy, and Domaine Armand Rousseau.
New-World Pinot Noir tends to grow in warmer climates and on newer vines than in the Old Word, producing wine that is more fruit-forward with flavors of red cherry, cranberry, and raspberry. The highest-quality wines come from moderate regions in California, particularly Sonoma and Carneros, and top producers include Marcassin, Kistler, and Kosta Browne.
High acidity, low tannin, and low alcohol make Pinot Noir a versatile wine to pair. Spiced duck, fatty fish, grilled chicken, spicy foods, and anything with mushroom are just a few classic examples.
Collector Data For This Wine
- 1275 bottles owned
- 312 collectors
- Average collector rating: 93
(Out of 312 collectors)