Share Our Wine Charity Event In the OC

Irvine, CA
Tasted Saturday, November 17, 2007 by Frank Murray III with 427 views

Introduction

A charity event. A symposium tasting with Michael Browne of KB kicked it off, with a look at some 2006 Keefer barrel samples, across several different clones. Then, a sampling of the 2005s from finished bottles, as noted.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Brown spice, some candied cherry and a touch of heat on the nose. Clove, cola and fruit forward. As it sat with some air, became a bit better balanced. Make sure you add some decant time if you drink now.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Silkier than the RRV, with cherry and red apple. Drinks well now with a hint of cedar/slate on the finish and a spicy kick.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Wow, what a standout bottle of wine this was for me. Stylistically different for me than the Koplen and the Kanzler so probably my #1 tied wine, next to the Koplen. How different? Shows a real cool mix of raspberry and cherry fruit, with mineral, red apple and finishing with a dark brown spice note and a bitchen lift of red fruited acidity at the end. This wine is quite complete and sound. The reason it works for me is the focused crisp red fruit notes that screams cool climate RRV. Great stuff.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    The Koplen, year after year, will likely always be my favorite KB. Yes, the Kanzler is good, and the Keefer is right there too, but nothing beats Koplen, IMO. A singing nose of rose petal and those aromatics say Koplen. What you find here is a balance of flavors--blackberry, truffle/earth, and dark fruit with no edges or bumps. Seemed a bit feminine in weight but covers the palate. Finishes with a gentle rose water and raspberry feel. After the event, like with the Kanzler, I took another 8 ounce glass to the auction tent and the wine as it warmed became larger in size and full of opulence. We'll have to see how this wine evolves but probably my favorite Koplen to date.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Tasted next after the Koplen. In contrast, shows more structure, some slate and complexity. A crushed raspberry that kind of explodes forward, along with a mushroom note. Complex with a long finish that includes spice and an herbal note. I asked Michael B during the Q and A about whole cluster here and he indicated about 3%--given the herbal note, I guessed much more. In sum, we've got a quite a wine here, that needs some time to unwrap but it's all there. My notes say this wine beats the Koplen, in time.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Juicy and generous. Tasted right after the Kanzler so maybe not a fair comparison here, as I took this Amber Ridge to be a little too fruit driven now. Rasberry, blackberry and some finishing oak. Kind of one dimensional at this state, with big bones of dark fruit.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Quite excited to try this wine, to see how Mike would intrepret stylisitically a one cloned fruit from a property that I think so much of. Call this wine round and mouthfilling with strawberry, blueberry some citrus (which is terroir specific for me) and some orange rind. I even thought this might be mistaken for a Melville Carrie's. Shows a dark fruited finish similar to the Amber Ridge (which I had tasted just before) but not to the degree of darkness. Still a bit tight with the finishing citrus. Probably will get even better with another 6 months. A nice interpretation of Garys' and a sexy bottle of pinot.

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