October 15, 2023 - One off ($75) from auction about 4 years ago. On the nose and palate, mixed red berries and cherries, plums and black currants on the back palate, sage, dried flowers, earthy herbality and a slightly boozy note on the nose only. Medium ruby, medium bodied, medium to full legs. Medium+ acidity, lightish tannins, no heat. Good+ complexity, VG+ intensity and persistence. Last of several SVD pinots from KB bought several years ago when my wife, and to a lesser extent, I, were both more into pinots generally and KB in particular. In the interim, I’ve become less excited about pinot generally, US pinot more so, and producers of bigger pinots, which I usually associate KB with, in particular. All that said, this surprised a bit, mostly in a good way, having a lighter and more savory profile, as Oldwines noted in his TN. There’s nothing terribly profound here, and even if it’s not Lynmar, it’s not going to be confused with Rhys, either, but this drank well off the pour through night #3, was enjoyable on its own and a very good complement to broiled salmon and veggies. I’m thinking that this is late peak drinking window, likely to hold here for at least a couple of years but not to improve. This kind of reinforces where I am now on Pinots as mostly niche quaffs, particularly nice as a white alternative with salmon, but not likely to be a regular participant, particularly from this producer, at this price point, with many others available of similar quality at lower prices (lest anyone think, with my proliferation of pinot scores between 90-93 that every pinot would seem to be in that vicinity, like Roseanne Barr memorably said many moons ago that everything to a man is about 6 inches, I note that during the time I had this open, I was at an occasion and happened onto a glass of a 2020 Frank Family Pinot, which I’d have scored 86-87). CT bang on. 92+
May 7, 2023 - Drinking well. Berry essence. Mild tannin.
April 5, 2023 - Bright cherry fruit, a little earthy tannin, but not really much else. What it does, it does well, but "complexity" is never going to enter the discussion.
August 5, 2022 - Too big - too hot - too much concentrated fruit. This a big, high alcohol, hot, black currant fruit spiking pinot. Finish is almost non existent.
April 25, 2022 - Lots of cherry on the nose and palate. No decant needed. Lots of red fruit with a long finish. Will still be good for a few more years.
March 20, 2022 - Color of dark red. Scents of ripe red berry fruits. Tastes were consistent with scents (although with age no longer a KB fruit bomb by any means), with medium acidity sufficient to balance.
November 25, 2021 - This was the first Kosta Browne we have ever tasted, so we really don't have much to compare it to. For a 2014 vintage, it still was hugely fruity. If this bottle had mellowed with age, one can only wonder what a newer vintage tastes like. But it was tasty, and, quite a bit different than Sonoma or Burgundy pinot's.
November 24, 2021 - consistent with notes of 3/25/2020
October 16, 2021 - Dark red concentrated fruit. Bold for a Pinot. Small amount of acidity balances it out. Excellent wine
September 18, 2021 - Shane's 6th Annual Game Dinner - Game & Truffle (Chateau Lea, New Jersey): As far as KB’s style goes, I tend not to be a fan, but in the case of this wine. It was rather nicely balanced, fresh and not overly ripe and extracted. It was decanted around 4:30pm and tasted around 7pm accompanying the Pheasant and waffle dish at the game dinner along side a 2014 KB Keefer Ranch Pinot. It was a rather typical color…Bright translucent, medium ruby. The nose was floral, fruity with mixed red berries and accented with vanilla. The acidity was the brightest I have experienced in any KB Pinot prior, though still barely medium. It had some tannic structure about medium(-). There was a nice savory character to the wine, along with bright cherry and a touch of leather. Finish was long. This was pretty well balanced and attractive with the dish, definitely a step up from the Keefer Ranch and that view was nearly unanimous among the group