Seventeen years old and still going. Candied plum, cola and vanilla. This wine has lively fruit and still pretty primary. It is pretty smooth. Overall a good wine. I didn't know what to expect after 17 years ...it is a bit one dimensional and more obvious than I would have guessed.
My palate has changed over the years, and this is not really my cup of tea. I prefer a more classic Pinot with cherry fruit and more structure. Cola is not what I typically like in a Pinot.
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surprisingly good. Lots of fruit. Almost port like nose. Pallette fills with juicy fruit good mouthful and a nice finish. Bricking color but still hanging in there.
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Garnet in color and getting lighter and browner finally after all these years. Although still kicking in the lots of fruit still present and very lively acidity on the palate and finish. Notes found were cherry blow pop, cola, vanilla, raspberry, lingonberry, earthy mushroom and white pepper. Drink now.
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15 year Pinot?. Yup and was still rocking. Great balance and the fruit was showing well without the usual “ band aid” smell for an aged wine. Last one and would say drink within the year.
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Opened and poured. Quite nice and mature. Still has some KB power, showing mostly cola, hoisin, dark plum and berry notes. Hiding the ABV well on this night. Some humidity on the glyceric heat index, but not too bad. Last one...good run for these.
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15.2% alc. Ruby red center with orange rim. Explosive nose of dark cherry, raspberry, orange blossom, celery, and cocoa. The palate is deep and dark with cherry, raspberry, cocoa, and cola notes. This weighty wine is full-bodied with balanced acidity and tannins. Overall, this is exactly what a hedonistic, yet balanced wine, should provide. It is big and dark with some oak influence, as evidenced by the chocolate notes, but it is not unbalanced, which is quite a feat. While not a vibrant as the 04 Peay Sonoma Coast, it was still a fine wine.
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Opened for New Year's Eve, in preparation of Rose Bowl! Paired with rack of lamb, au gratin potatoes, etc. Ruby clear, with heady humid aromatics of alcohol, deep thick layers of steeped strawberry, raspberry. On the palate, this full bodied, beefy pinot showing a bit of age...the fruits taking on more secondary notes, soy, oak, plum, cola, iodine and espresso. Reminiscent of an aged Zin in some ways without the spice.
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Cherry cola, coffee and sweet aroma of ripe red fruits. Light-medium bodied with flavors of cherries, coffee and nice balance of acidity and fruits. Finishes long with chewy persistence. Drink up!
Second night, this wine really opened up. After the initial sweetness fades, a touch of acidity connects to the dark cocoa/coffee finish. 94.
A
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Very forward and fruity aroma with an almost overwhelming nose. Good well-structured body with balanced rich fruity flavor. It tastes great, but somehow wasn't the typical pinot noir I was expecting. Lower acidity, richer flavor combined with fuller body make this reminiscent of a cab profile. Still a great enjoyable wine. I would score this higher if you shift your paradigm a little bit.
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This wine is very lively, but I believe it has lost a step. Can't say that everyone in my group agrees with me. 92 is a compromise. Typically, we start the KB rankings at 93.
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Some sign of aging or rusting at the edges as the color is not a ruby red as younger KB wines are. Cherry cola on the nose with a touch of vanilla and soy. Dark cherry tea and a touch of allspice in the mouth. Sweet finish. Some alcohol noted as well. My wife liked this wine a lot and she is not a big red wine lover. I enjoyed it as well. Fruit held up better than I thought. Purchased from the winery and held in my cellar since 2007.
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Opened for Birthday wine #2. PnP with Salmon. Agile pour with light ruby to clear with slight oranging. Dense action, heat and oak on the nose, with classic KB elements of molasses, black cherry, toast, even some scalded marshmallow. Maturing fruit nuances featuring brown turbinado, fermenting strawberry, soy, hoisin with a broad swath on the finish. Has lost some of the electricity, but exceptional nonetheless. Day two revealed darker elements, lots of black cherry, a little funk, and cola on the nose. Some ETOH. Briary and ripe on the long finish.
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Opened for a large family dinner. Everybody loved it. I got a taste. Healthy nose of red fruit, iodine, soil. Big and vivacious on the tongue with sweet tannins and a bold finish. Lower acidity. Impressive wine with a big personality. Not my favorite style but very good for what it is.
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It is time to finish this vintage. The color was showing shades of rust. Decanted for an hour and it opened up nicely, not as full flavored as the bottle I had last year.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted 1 hour before serving.
Garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Nose of Briar patch, spices, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3 years plus or minus. Give it a little air beforehand.
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Opened for Easter dinner. Tight and somewhat austere, it did open somewhat with air, but the fruit was muted. Saved the majority of the bottle for day two and what a difference! Creamy, sweet red fruit was smooth and full in the mouth. Not sure it is a 96, but still really awesome! Too bad it missed Easter dinner.
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Delicious Pinot Noir. Big, full, rich, silky but still well structured. The nose was almost overwhelming with berry flavors, vanilla, cherry cola cream, cedar and fresh herbs. The nose and palate were a little hot. Not surprised to see 15.2 abv. Even at that level the wine was still well balanced. Outstanding experience!
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Wow. Been a while since I have had a wine this good. If you have some bottles of this, I suggest trying one right now. If you have one bottle of this, I suggest drinking it right now - it can't get any better! Phenominal balance and silkiness with a bit of tartness from cherry flavors. Nose very earthy with wet leather. Cherries, raspberry,and stawberry were standout friuts with some darker fruits showing as well. But this was not "light in the mouth" like other pinots tend to be that show the red fruits. Drank with a gourmet pizza of articokes, red onions, capers, etc. (no meats). Great wine!!
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Has evolved into a gorgeous wine. Rich raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit supported by notes of licorice, sassafrass and clove. Some notes of candied orange peel on th finish. Liquid silk. The creamy oak character has faded and the wine has maintained a good backbone to support the fruit. Absolutely delicious.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks (sorry Dave) (Barbaresco): Obvious alcohol on the nose, port-like? And raisin. Pinot? I re-poured in a new glass to be sure. Same result. Candied cherry cola palate, though little if any heat. Lengthy vanilla cream and cola finish. I continue to have a Jekyl/Hyde reaction to KB.
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Not as memorable as the first bottle but still quite enjoyable. The nose was refined with baking spice, dried fruit and old fashion soda pop. Finish was a tad short at first but opened in length with more air time. Did not have any burgundian old school qualities but still pleasant with dinner at Forbes Mill in LG.
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Just damn enjoyable, I have to admit. Big? Yup? Lots of cola, oodles of fruit? Yup. But you are nuts if you do not get pleasure out of sipping this wine from this vintage. It defines yummy, over the top, non-pinot pinot. Lots of spice and a myriad of flavors run across the palate. The couple vintages after this have been one dimensional, but 2004 is simply good. Non-traditional, but tasty.
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Classic KB RRV Pinot....dark and candied sandalwood spice fruit(raspberry/cherry), brown sugar, Dr Pepper tingle, dried herbs/rose petals. It's NOT Burgundy...it's classic Cali....big fruit and spice....very tasty!
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Crimson with minimal signs of aging. Enticing humid pinot aromas grip the senses with a profusion of cherry, raspberry and cola. Spicy pepper and brown sugar twangs the aromatic alcohol note as well. On the palate this has indeed evolved since release and my last tasting event. The exuberance of fruit has mellowed a bit, yet world class pinot structure abounds still. There's masses of vivid creamy cherry and raspberry, with barrel program influences of toasted cinnamon on a long finish. No detracting heat IMO, this has a long life ahead and no need to rush and guzzle them all down. I actually think some additional mature nuances will continue to reveal themselves. Beauty in a glass personified. Day two under vac-u-vin shows palate transformation into the plummy, molasses and additional turbinado secondaries.
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Not my usual style, but wow we sure like this wine. Balanced, easy drinking (gulping?). Seriously, we are not a 'big' pinot family, but this is just so good, so balanced, so able to take the ripeness and alcohol. I was pleasantly surprised, but why should I be...every time I drink this wine it's like, "well, I don't really like big pinots but...". OK, there, I said it. I like Kosta Browne.
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Same as the last bottle I remember, with slightly more alcohol in relation to the fruit. Reinforces my opinion that most domestic wines are best drunk young. Pleasant, but just that.
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This vintage is loosing its luster and it is time to drink what you have left. I've been hold a few bottles to see how it would hold; although it is still a nice wine it is past its peak. It is interesting how it has aged (the whole reason why I held the wine) as it has really softened to the point that it is barely recognizable as a Pinot, and is more like a Syrah. This wine is jammy and a little sweet without the heat and earthy components typical of a Pinot. I have two more bottles, will likely drink one here in the next couple of days, the last bottle I may just hold as an experiment. This wine will never hold up to 2014 as indicated on the drinking window. Drink up.
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Excellent! Bright fruit right out of the bottle. Over a four hour period of time this bottle went from bright red raspberry fruit to a darker creamier version of raspberry. The nose was fruity with a slight bit of earthiness. Wish I had more.
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First bottle of KB for Sean. Alright showing as barely any heat was detected - although served at cellar temperature. The typtical 04 RR bottling one would come to expect from KB. Last bottle.
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I have been accumulating KB wines since the 2004 vintage, RRV and Sonoma Coast and later the single vineyards as they were allocated to me and this is the first one I have opened to drink - with dinner- beef stew. What a total disapointment.In the glass deep ruby offering a nose of cherry,raspberry,light oak and maybe sandlewood. In the mouth - SWEET - I'd swear it was chaptalized as the only other wines I have had with that much up front sweetness were desert wines - This was a big round hedonistic fruit bomb that really didn't have the nose or palate of Pinot - In fact from the midpalate on it was a rather boring simple wine. My wife knew how the press raptured over Kosta Brown and immediately asked what was wrong based on my facial expression - I guess if there ever was a Parkerized wine this is it. Looking back a day later, if that bottle was tasted blind by me, I couldn't tell anyone that was Pinot Noir. I guess this is what makes the world go round - Thank heaven for the auction market - I may even make a small profit.
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Dark garnet color, with a jammy nose of cherries and dark fruits. Full bodied for a pinot, with some spicier flavors when in the mouth. Darker and jammier still on the second day.
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I would say drink it now. We put some chill on the wine so that we could track it as it warmed. Even as it came to room temp, it did not lose its way, nor show any heat edges. Brown spice, some elements of asian 5 spice, with candied apple and raspberry, too. There is some trailing acidity but letting this go any longer, IMO, is not going to improve the wine so get it wile the fruit is still center.
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This is at a perfect place right now. So much so that I regret the ones I drank previously. Red fruit and Cola, mid to full bodied. Perfectly balanced and absolutely no heat. The finish lasts forever. This is just a beautiful wine. Wish I had more.
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This bottle drank better than the last from August 2008. Dark color, spice and dark fruit on the palate. Long finish. No bitterness. Big Pinot, not for Burgundy lovers.
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Amazingly elegant, light, thought provoking and intellectual.... okay, kidding! This is big, hedonistic and somewhat simple....but delicious. Sometimes this type of wine fits the bill, and in this instance in delivered fun, lip smacking tastiness. Much better than the 05 and 06 versions. Lots of cola, confectioner sugar, blueberry. Warm it gets hot, but kept reasonably cool it delivers. Well integrated at this point, no hurry to drink up, though I do not think it is going anywhere either. Okay, so whine about lack of typicity all you want, stir the rumor pot on secret Syrah infusions.... this is a style of pinot that unabashedly says new world and in vintages like this, pull it off well. Just hope the 07's bring back some of the love for me, as I have lost it on the 05 and 06's.
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Took a while to open up, but once it did it was thoroughly enjoyable. Very lush, with ripe red fruit and a hint of cola along with some background spice. Not at all over the hill.
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A rockin, rich pinot. Open nose with a great floral, dark cherry, cola perfume. Rich and lively on the palate. Long, tasty finish with loads of cola and spice.
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I have to be honest here it just was not that good. I will NOT be buying any of thier wines on the secondary market as they simply are not worth the price IMHO. Hints of dark fruit on the nose with cresote and fennel on the palate.
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Pure RRV pinot with abundant, enticing fruit aromas. Expansive on the palate with only a trace of bite at the end. Cherries, plums and red fruits. Holding together very well.
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Big, sappy pinot, just dripping with fruit. Cola and cherries by the ton. Any heat from the alcohol is veiled behind the wall of fruit. Very good for this style. But my palate, she is a changin'.
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decanted for ~ 2 hrs..a bright strawberry..red rasberry nose..which repeats on the palate, which seemed a little too sweat for our taste FWIW..the our..is not the regal our, but refers to my wife and I ..we are fortunate in that we have similar likes and dislikes in wine...this particular bottle was not integrated and had a disappointing hot finish..from reading other's notes, perhaps we should have waited at least another year, but, alas, we have no more bottesl
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After hearing reports of this vintage going over the hill I was extremely happy with this. A bright cherry palate was the shining star but the real treat is finding that the oak has integrated nicely giving this bottle a beautiful balance. The alcohol has also backed off to the fruit as the fruit dominated the finish with no heat. This was my final bottle but would have no problem aging more if I had them. 15.2% EtOH
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My last bottle, which is a shame because this is better than it's ever been. Balance has improved. Still has a bit of heat, but oh so good. Plenty of life left - no need to rush on this one!
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This is a dark-fruited wine with balanced acidity, a plush mouthfeel, and a long finish. Time has not done a disservice to this wine. The fruit has mellowed but the character of this wine has remained strong. This is an impressive wine that shows that Kosta Browne wines do not fall apart with a few years in the bottle.
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Corky, musty nose. Cork in the flavors too but nice flavors of cherry, strawberry and smoke with a long finish. The parts were nice so too bad it was corked.
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Consistent with my previous notes - The nose says Pinot Noir, cherry and spice, on the palate this wine explodes with lush fruit with great acidity and balance to keep it all framed in optimum perspective. New world, yes, if you like old world burgandy, could you appreicate this one, yes! It's not over the top smack you in the face dark over extracted pinot (which I also like!). This wine is more constrained and balanced in my opinion when compared to many other central coast and rrv pinot's. Nice job here. Great food wine. Previously scored 95, my opinion has not changed.
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this is still my fav RRV blend wine they made. trade spices, cola, bright fruit, rich, smooth, opulent, and surpassingly hid its IMO high alcohol content extremely well. this bottle showed much better then my last, time has been kind to it. don't wait, enjoy today!!
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Meh. Cherry, sweet cinnamon, some alcohol, full bodied - a pinot style that I don't mind drinking from time-to-time but nothing that I want on a regular basis. My impressions have not changed on this wine from last year's note.
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Lush, more intergrated and forward than the previous bottle. Big, enveloping nose of black cherries, cola, and spice. Doesn't quite follow through on the palate with the same sensory intensity, but does show a seductive, lush texture. Yes, it is not a wine of subtlety, but delicious nonetheless.
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Kind of light on the aroma, but a very nice medium heavy bodied RRV pinot. Nicely balanced and great with pork loin tonight. Can't imagine it will get any better with additonal aging but will leave the last bottle for 09.
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Whoa, what a difference two years makes. This is massive and dark. Should I say brooding? Not for the feint of heart. Dark fruit, mouth filling, bitter coffee on the finish. Served at cellar temp, so no heat noticable. A few ounces are saved for tomorrow.
Well, the four ounce pour left over showed bitter and hot. Not the best showing of this wine. Will hold the other three bottles and cross my fingers!
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Wanting something big and yummy tonight, just popped and poured. Dark garnet color that seemed really weighty in the glass. The nose was intoxicating with dollops of rich ripe fruit (blackberries, dark cherries), lots of spice/white pepper. The palate was massive as I had expected with ripe cherry flavor that put the acidity in the background. Went really well with a grilled tri-tip. Got what I wanted and expected.
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First impression after an hour of decanting is that tis wine is not standing the test of time well, or is in one of those awkward stages and it's worth waiting a while to open the next bottle. Lots of complexity with classic fruit and rrv spice, but its not coming together as a balanced whole. I've commented before about about a pleasant bitterness in this wine, but it seems less pleasant tonight. I will let this bottle sit for a night before I comment further. (Did get more balanced and pleasant on the second day)
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First time with the 04 RRV. Been waiting for 'the moment' and Father's Day with CR salmon seemed right. Decanted 2 hours (it opened considerably since first popped). Rich and spicey. The nose has cherries and straw/rasp-berries, caramel and some peppery spice. The palate is pretty heavy for a pinot and the flavors of red fruits spread thickly ofver the palate. Towards the finish pepper is noted as well as grainy tannin and a bit of acidity, making the finish smooth rather than lifting. The fat of the salmon could have used a more acidity from the wine. Really nice Cali pinot, but not the 'amazing' experience I was led to expect.
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Dencanted 3 hours. Full body. Spicy pepper on front pallet. Highly concentrated, long finish with overtones of raspberry sweet tart. The smoothest, most well refined Pinot I've ever drank!
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Black cherries, some initial oaky spice which receded fairly quickly with air, and a little hint of cola. Soft and round, but not nearly as heavy or ponderous as I was expecting (a Fragonard, not a Rubens). After a few hours at room temperature, a little bit of alcoholic heat became evident. Better the second night. Lacking in complexity, it was nonetheless a very easy wine to drink.
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For RRV was stunning. Great aromas of deep rich concentrated cherry berry fruit with spicy edge. Palate followed thru with warm mouthcouting soft red cherry fruit plus nutmeg, cocoa, and allspice. Sweet fruit finish that lingered. Not a mind bender, but friendly crowd pleaser style that was simply yummy. Doubt it improves, but almost certain this holds for at least a few more years.
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Decanted for 45 minutes. Deep dark garnet. Nose of sweet cherries, a little spice and some brown sugar. Palate was far more balanced than I expected. Lush mouthfeel but not super complex. Light to moderate acidity -- touch of heat in the medium finish. Just a nice RR pinot. Far more enjoyable than the bottle I tried a few years ago -- that seemed hot and out of balance -- this was pretty solid.
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Medium garnet red in color. Alcoholic & smokey nose with hints of mushroom & earth. Medium to full bodied wine where the red fruit is hidden beneath a layer of spices & earthy flavors & finishes astringent and acidic. I was wishing for more. This wine fell well short of my expectations. 50+5+11+14+5=85
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No formal note taken. Just popped and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Fairly simple and straightforward nose and palate of cherries and berries. No secondary or tertiary flavors though. Deduct a couple of points for that. Everything seems well balanced. Presence on the palate was soft and supple which was a bit of a surprise. Add back a point or so for that. Drink over the next few years.
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I'm really dissapointed in this wine. I thought another year would open it up a bnch but it's not done much. Not much of a nose, high alcohol and pretty one dimensional. Sappy alcohol. Bleck!
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Opened for 30 min to warm up from cellar temp. Fragent nose, lots of bright cherries and strawberries on the palate. Definitely got oak after an hour into it, but not off-putting. Seems a step down from the Sonoma Coast.
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popped and poured. perfect cork. deep red in color almost all the way to the edge. Big nose of ripe cherry, cola and spice. Huge flavors in the mouth: Black cherry, grilled strawberries, Dr. Pepper (or cola with spice) and bacon fat. A little trace of heat on the finish was the only negative... But this wine made me want to do push ups...don't worry, i didn't.
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Amazingly pure fruit leading with cherries and finishing with strawberries. Clear garnet, long lingering finish and perfect balance. Improves after opening, nuances of spice and clove. Very direct, very foward and really good.
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Candy sweet nose that carries thru in the taste. Amazing fruit, but did not have the class of the Daniel Rion Nuit St Georges burgundy. But thats OK, because its new world and delicious. After 3 hours the sweetness overwhelmes.
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Good color. Complex nose with strawberry, cherry,spices and other things. Smells really good. The palate is rich and velvety with well integrated tannins and acidity. Lots of nice fruit. Medium length finish. This is my first taste of this wine, perhaps some of the hype is justified. It seems this wine is drinking really well at the moment. I'll try to save my remaining bottle for another 2 or 3 years. 50 + 5 + 13 + 17 + 8
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Doubled decanted and poured, and then consumed over 4 hours. Medium-bodied wine that is medium to dark ruby in color. On the nose, dark cherries, light smoke, and x-mas spice. On the palate, candied cherries, citrus, light oak, and more x-mas spice on the very long 30-40 second finish. Typically delicious KB Pinot...packed with fruit, this wine is not subtle, but it sure is enjoyable!
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Another great bottle. This wine for me is exactly what I'm looking for in a Russian River pinot. Holding quite well and is so good now I'm not sure it will improve. Hope the '05 evolves into a wine that is as good as the '04.
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Wow...so this is what RRV pinot is all about. An explosive nose of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry...ripe and intense. Black cherry and raspberry notes on the palate...a wonderful mouthfeel and persistent finish. I could definitely get used to this...
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Effusive, rich and generous from the get go. Aromatics had loads of cherry, cranberry and spice. Palate was richly fruited and round - with sufficient acids underlying to hold it together. Pure and seamless. Very tasty and a big-time crowd pleaser.
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a very good but not great bottle of Pinot. dark and rich looking it takes some time to open and blow of the heat, well balanced considering the high alcohol, smooth, ripe bing cherries, not a lot of acid, some cola but not as much as i expected based on some of the other reviews. overall a nice bottle of wine, but not quite worth the hype.
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Upon opening, pouring, and sampling it was clearly a big, heady pinot with a giant, juicy mid-palate. I poured a glass and then ran some errands. After an hour in the glass the wine had tamed a bit. Earth, cola, dark/red cherries with good but not overly gripping acidity and no noticeable alcohol despite the 15.2% on the label. the 2nd and 3rd glasses were even better, paired with a roasted pork loan. Drinking very well right now with a good bit of air.
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I'm posting on this wine because this is clearly the best of the several bottles I've tried since release. It improved exponentially over the night peaking on day 2 when we drained a few remaining pours. Simply put, the layers and complexity of the fruit, at this age, are pretty remarkable. Early on the cola dominates, but gives way to richly toned cherry. The underlying acidity pokes through occasionally but otherwise supporting. Extended finish that brings a smile. A definite crowd pleasure.
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Based on all the talk of the KB RRV's demise I also was moved to action and opened my first of a 6 pack. Well, lets just say the wine was showing very nicely for me last night and it was doing a great job of straddling the line between dark and bright fruit. There was some heat on the finish but not enough to be a distraction as it melded nicely with the spicy red fruited finish. I'll be finishing the remainder of the bottle tonight so we'll see how it holds up. At this point I am happy to have 5 more bottles and will likely finish them off over the next year.
On day 2 this was drinking even better as the balance was superb and the heat component on the finish was all but gone. From this perspective I would not be surprised if this wine is showing even better in a year. However, I do not think this will add additional complexity. I have enough left to follow it over the next year and beyond if warranted.
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It is big in style, but there is good acidity to carry it, especially when first opened. In fact, it was best then, and two hours later it is getting to be a bit heavy and hot. But on pop and pour, this is bright, with cola and cherry and a clean palate. LC thought that it was barely true to its varietal character, being a bit bigger than an Arcadian, say. 4.0-
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My first KB. I was concerned that this would be an overdone mess, but I find it beautiful, with well delineated fruit and cola, with just a beautiful, silky mouthfeel. This would be a 95 but for some heat on the finish....
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WS NYWE Top Ten tasting (Marriott Marquis): Full ruby red color. Forward tight black cherry with spice. Huge tight black cherry with stinging nettle acidity. Seems much tighterthat it was on release, but opened up nicely with some air and rounded out quite a bit. 93-94 pts.
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2006 WS Top Ten Tasting (NYC): Ranked #7. $38. Represented on the dais by Michael Browne, who started the winery 10 years ago with no formal training. This wine is a blend of four vineyards (Cohn, Koplen, Amber Ridge, and Bly). The fruit was harvested in 2 weeks, rather than the normal 4-5 weeks. It had wonderful aromas and flavors of blackberry, strawberry, sassafras and cola. A chewy pinot, with serious guts yet a luscious mouthfeel. Long, long finish. HS noted that there was “no attempt to throttle back” on this wine. I enjoy that style. Drink now through 2011.
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A well made wine but nothing that blew me away. This was my first KB and I was spoiled a bit by the 2005 RRV that my neighbor opened right before I opened the 04. The 04 in comparison seemed heavy and over ripe. The 05 was more reserved and very "pretty" - what I like in a pinot. I am not sure if this wine will develop further in bottle - if I were to guess, I would say it won't.
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Tasted October 3, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking in areas. Really attractive nose of black raspberries, black cherries, black berries and just a hint of thistle. Rich and juicy flavors of black raspberries, baked plums, mixed berries and just a hint of candied fruit on the medium to long finish that was actually quite pleasing. Medium to vibrant acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. No hurry.
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Thick and extracted. Almost black to the rim. Low acidity and smooth tannins. Definitely smells of Pinot with notes of sweet pork fat and cola leading to graphite, plum and strawberry with a little hint of sage. There is also the nice Pinot musk, clove, dry earth and savory. In the mouth, it is very full bodied with pork fat leading to graphite, plum and strawberry. With more air, more earth showed through. Very long, complex finish of cola and pork with cranberry. Very silky, but just too much, too thick, too heavy for me.
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Very impressive. We tasted 2005 Ktuch with this wine since there is a student/mentor relationship between the two wineries and both are from RRV. The 2005 Kutch was very ripe, very fruity, interesting and complex. It also had a nice texture to it. The Kutch wasn't necessarily flabby, but a little more acid would have made it a better overall wine.
The Kosta Browne had darker fruit. Much more balance and well structured. I was a bit surprised considering that 2004 was considered the hotter vintage. KB was much more subtle and refined.
I would give the Kutch 90-91, but the KB was flat out awesome.
Dinner @ 12th Ave Grill with Greg Spencer and Jason.
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First bottle of this I've opened from this vintage. RRV is usually a favorite of mine from KB and this is no exception. Rich and enticing aromas of fruit and spice. Enough has been written about this wine. May I add one observbation about the intriguing taste that begins In the mid pallette and continues into the finish --somewhat bitter, almost like the bite that comes with Mocha or dark caramel, but none of the cloying characteristics of either--almost lite. Overall a great wine.
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Definitely worthy of the accolades! Incredible nose with rich red cherry and dark berry flavors with hint of earthy and spice notes. Wonderful mouth feel and long long finish. Well crafted with balance and structure that hides the alcohol imperceptibly.
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The hype is there, I am still convinced that I would have had this blind I would have picked it as one of the top notch California Pinot's I've ever consumed. The nose says Pinot Noir, cherry and spice, on the palate this wine explodes with lush fruit with great acidity and balance to keep it all framed in optimum perspective. New world, yes, if you like old world burgandy, could you appreicate this one, yes! It's not over the top smack you in the face dark over extracted pinot (which I also like!). This wine is more constrained and balanced in my opinion when compared to many other central coast and rrv pinot's. Nice job here. Great food wine.
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Parker's note in HG prompted me to open this bottle. PN is not one of my favorite grapes but I was very impressed with this. The ever-reliable Donna (who drinks everything blind because she could care less what name is on the label) really loved it.
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Ripe raspberry and black cherry, pine sap and spice. Silky mouth feel with maybe a hint of pepper. Drinking beautifully and benefits from a slight chill as the alcohol might be high for some. Nice example of Russian River Pinot Noir. For the record, this note was based on a 375ml bottle.
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On the riper side but it worked for the meal. Nose of brown sugar and red fruits. Lots of red raspberry, cola and vanilla. Will finish the last few ounces tomorrow and add a closing remark. 24 hours later, with the bottle receiving a bit of a chill and then coming up to room temp, some green apple, the red raspberry and some noticeable acidity with a touch of warm heat. Neither syrupy nor thick, the acidity and the red fruit carry the wine and I like it.
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very full, deep and rich nose of smoke, chocolate, cola. The palate is very full. Lots of sweet fruit and acidity, but very high heat from the 15.2 alc. Redolent of reluctantly rotting refuse. Overall, very enjoyable. Overpowered sockeye salmon. Would be better with some pork loin or something more robust. Almost like a CDP more than a pinot. We decanted for an hour; another hour probably would have done better.
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With so many identical tasting notes posted on this wine it seems silly to repeat the same comments. What stood out the most for me was the huge yet focused fruit, the velvety mouthfeel, the classic Russian River Valley spice and on the downside a slight alcohol nose especially noticeable when the glass was near empty.
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Wonderful nose of cherry cola and clove. Great mouthfeel with a nice tannic structure that does not stand out but holds the wine together. Great bottle of pinot.
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Unbelievable. This wine was so soft and fragrant, feminine and yet vibrant, with bing cherry, huckleberry, and vanilla notes. the finish was among the greatest i have ever experienced in a pinot. Easy to see why these guys have a cult following.
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This wine is still wound rather tight and has closed aromas for the first hour, but gushes with spice, dark fruits, cherry, blueberry and raspberry. The finish is nice, but not sensational. I think this should get better in a year or two.
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Probably the best Pinot I've had this year and it may hold the title for some time to come! Decanted for 90 minutes, during which time I couldn't keep my nose out of the top of the decanter -- YUM! The palate was smooth, no heat, surprisingly little tannin, and gorgeous RRV fruit that just kept gushing and gushing. Really a joy. I know everyone says this will get better with more age, but I am not sure this is built for the long-haul, maybe a few more years max. Not sure I can wait...
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Pure ruby with little lightening at rim. Wild nose of cherry cola, sugar syrup, red meat and clove. It’s got a lot going on. Very rich flavor profile on the palate, but it is not heavy or overly alcoholic to me. Juicy, tangy fruit – certainly with a portrayal of sweetness – that hits at the front, middle and back of the mouth. Seems a little primary, like window dressing without the core oomph that makes a wine truly great. That said, I like this a lot, think this winery is making some of the best pinots in California, and am happy to support for years to come. I will save other bottles for 3 to 5 years. (17.5+?)
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OC Kosta Browne Pay It Forward Offline (Sage in Newport Beach, CA): Another bottle of sexy aromatics. Like smelling a pastry bakery at the holidays...'bout knocked me over when it was poured. Velvety, more spicier than the 2003 RRV, with plum, cinnamon, cola, and nice lift of acidity. Probably will be as good as the 2003 in time but will show more punch and weight due to vintage signature.
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cherry, cola, and spice on the nose. This wine exhibits a great mouthfeel and texture which I think is the strength of this wine. As it decanted the oak became a little more prominent than I would like--but none the less this is great bottle of California Pinot. A great deal if purchased directly from the winery at release price.
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Expressive nose. Dark cherry, spice, and some cola on the palette. Sweet, ripe California fruit and no noticeable tannins. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Very enjoyable and went well with heavy beef dish.
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This is not my favorite style of Pinot Noir, but I guess I can see what the excitrment is about. There is plenty of ripe, raspberry, chery fruit with exotic spice elements. There is a bit too much raisin flavor and heat on the finish. Is there some residual sugar, too?
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Weird how i seem to be the only one who thinks the Sonoma is the better of the KB's...this bottle was definitely better than the first, but still not in the same league as the Sonoma IMHO
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While I believe in this producer having had many excellent bottles, not seeing the hype at this stage on this wine. Nice wine, but a bit tight and angular. Of course lots of time to see how things develop.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours. Gorgeous color in the glass. Gobs of berry flavor dominated by ripe raspberries (some cherry and strawberry in there as well). A touch of vanilla (from the oak?) and a bit of spice (want to say clove) round it out. The mouth feel was amazing, liquid velvet. Drank alone, not with food.
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The Atlanta "Not Lori" Off-line (Rathbun's): Huge nose. Big, rich flavors of dark cherry, cinnamon and anise spice along with a touch of orange peel and some vanilla. A full bodied wine that builds on the palate leading to a full and long finish.
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91-92PTS...Bought three and popped one to see what all the fuss was about. Extremely smooth but a tad closed in the nose and taste. This Pinot will definately benefit from a year or two of bottle age. This wine just made #10 wine of the year in the Wine Spectator top 100 list. They gave it a 96. I frankly don't see that (To get a 96 it better blow my socks off from the get go...better have great aromatics with great concentration and a stellar finish). I have two bottles left and will wait at least a year to drink the next one.
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I just can't love these wines regardless of hype. First they are not made for food. At least this wine had some pinot characteristics, but what happens with this wine is that the style is a crowd pleaser to be sure, but the purity that I enjoy is just not there. Well made, just not my style.
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Getting better with each bottle. This wine was the hit of Chris' wedding. Starts with an incredibly expressive nose. Hard to believe this wine could improve with age it's so good now but I bet it does. Kudos Michael Browne.
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Poured from 375 ml bottle. Delicious as always. Initial whif of ripe pinot fruit. Very tasty...I would say a mixture of strawberry and rasberry jam as well as some vanilla extract. It has a sweet taste that lingers for quite a while. The finish is what's impressive on this wine. It coats the tongue and makes the tongue say, "Damn, I want more!" Rich and tasty but it did have a lil heat as well. Sometimes I smelled the nice pinot fruit while other times I smelled strong alcohol.
Served with a duck leg/shitake dish as well as a italian squash dish prepared at home, it was a nice Sat evening drink. Pairs very well with food.
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On opening, the nose was closed and remained fairly restrained over two hours of being in a decanter (before we finished it). This is the most noticeable difference from the last 03 RRV that I opened which had a huge nose. On the palate, very little "opening up" was necessary. This Pinot is explosive will all kinds of berry fruit on the entry, continuing to the finish. There is also a decent amount of oak flavors in there, but they are well integrated. The tannic structure that is there is fairly soft, but this wine's complexity seems like it will improve the wine over time. I may wait a year to try another bottle. This is great stuff.
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Medium ruby color leads initially to a tight nose of black cherry which carried into a palate of mostly cherry, pepper and minerality. This was a very average wine on day one, but on day two this was singing with scents of cherry and earth. The palate carries additional cherry adding blackberry and rasberry while all wraped in a wonderful mouthfeel. I will not try any additional bottles for 2 -3 years.
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Decanted for 1 hour day before. Expected more, and opened a Martinelli 2000 Pinot instead. Wine was excellent next night, but exhibited a rich deep chocolate candied cherry profile. Good, but not worth the hype and the hunt.
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My first 04 RR from Kosta Browne. Relatively restrained aromatically at this stage, at least in comparison to the 2003. Bright red fruits, a hint of something like menthol and maybe a little bit of heat as it warms up from cellar temperature. In the mouth, this really shines. Fantastic mouthfeel with great presence of fruit and liveliness leading into a mouthwatering finish. I'll be sitting on the rest of my stash for a while but these are always a treat to try young.
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Great aromatics, silky mouthfeel, and fantastic balance! Shared with friends out to dinner, so I didn't bother to focus on more specific descriptors this time. Suffice to say though, another winner from KB!
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Very rich berry aromas on the nose, which matches the palate. Great fruit, at first showing more dark berries, then finishing with a trace of spice. Fruit is nicely balanced by acidity. Sweet tannins really show nicely on the finish. While I'd never mistake this for a Burgundy, this is a great example of making a powerful and intense wine that still shows nice balance. Great value wine, I'd say 91 or 92 points.
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NYC KB-fest (Ouest): A little reticent at first but really picked up weight with some air. Candied cherries and rasperries with hints of spice and cola. Fairly full in the mouth, but not at all heavy. Very nice, but I think this needs substantial time to let the fruit settle down a bit and have the oak integrate a little more. The wine certainly has ample stuffing to last. I preferred the '03 better at this stage, but I think that this will be a better wine than that one down the road.
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At Matyson, with Jane and Chris. Hot and huge and a bit disjointed when popped and poured. Evolved over time, and showed tremendous fruit, structure and acid. Will wait at least 6 months before opening another....or decant if I can't wait.
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medium bodied, but rather dark in color. i felt the midpalate lacked a bit, and that's an important component for me. there were no harsh edges, and i was pleased that the wine did not convey heavy alcohol, or too much forest floor. nevertheless, this was a wine that did not grab my attention, despite it's obvious pedigree.
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Decanted 3 hr’s. Big and wonderfully vibrant nose of dried dark cherries, pomegranate, hints of earth and a trace of minerals that follow through and broaden significantly on the fine, velvet palate and are nicely layered along with a streak of vanilla, some clove and dark spice that increase towards the back of the palate. Great concentration of flavors and good acidity throughout with a very full and lingering finish. Has a better nose and more layering than the ’03 had at this same point in time in its development. Can be enjoyed now with 3 hr’s decant time, but should continue to improve over the next 2+ years.
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Uh oh, where is the fruit? AWOL? Nothing came to the fore even after 3 hours in the decanter. We went gaga over the 2004 KB Sonoma, yet this received a higher rating by Spectator. Could not detect any problem with the bottle. Any body else had a similar experience with thes two KB releases? At least Daniel's chef tasting at St. John rocked. It was:
Avocado "ball" containing Kobe beef, sungold Tomato, aoili, in a tomato butter. Beautiful and delicious.
Bigeye tuna BLT w poached quail egg and chive vinagrette. Sublime
Wildwood Farms Vegetable soup with lobster ravioli
Herbed gently cooked King salmon with lemon aramini ..... Best salmon ever...cooked on TOP of the oven at very low heat....melted like butter
Moulard duck with coconut crusted foie gras, butter poached peaches, peach consomme, roasted baby onion....coconut crusted foie...where did the inspiration for this come from, Daniel? Delicious
Pine nut semi fredo with olive oil lemon cake and shirley plums...a perfect yin & yang, sweet and sour
Count Caroline & I as Daniel Lindley's biggest fans.....St. John is certainly one of the best restaurants anywhere
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Another great bottle. As good as this pinot is now I think it is still going to improve with age. Note to self - try to keep you hands off this wine for at least another year. Lots of luck
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Wow, what a great pinot. While this wine is drinking great well now it should be even better with some age. As great as the '03 version of this wine is the '04 is going to be even better with age. I love the dark cherry and blackberry components of this wine. Kudos to Michael Brown for making such a great wine. I love it.
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This was an extremely concentrated pinot. Very dark color. Very bold nose and flavors. Nothing light about this sucker. Going to let other bottle sit for quite a while.
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Does KB make bad wine? I know I tend to rave about their wines, but seriously I have not had any bad bottles. Consistently enjoyable and often times mindblowing. This bottle was popped and poured. Pure, concentrated, lengthy. Good acidity, balance and delineation. Though I did not feel the heat in my belly, I could only drink a glass and a half as I could feel the 15.2% in my head. (Got to get up early to go hiking in the AM). Anyway, KB remains my favorite Cali pinot.
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Incredible wine for its youth. Light and airy at first, an hour after opening it had depth and character - spice, jammy fruit, touch of heat on the end.
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Full of spice, cedar, and tobacco... underlying flavors of red fruits and buried deep are some floral notes on the nose. Palate of red fruit/cigar box dominant. Heat begins to show a bit as bottle warmed... don't think it will be there as everything integrates more. Ripe, sweet tannins on the medium length finish. A wonderful bottle of wine and incredible value. If you have lots, drink one now... otherwise, 2007-2013.
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Wow; the three or four notes here to date make me feel as though I'm vastly overrating this, but those are the breaks, as they say. I find that this is performing incredibly well, especially given that it's barely a baby and costs less than $40. It's explosive on the nose: raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry are all rolled into one, plus there's some cocoa and floral spice to add to the complexity. The palate is more of the same, and though it approaches volatility on the alcohol, that's almost a good thing: we can probably rest assured that it'll chill out after a year or two, and right now it just seems like a sign of admirable ripeness. Exuberant, affordable, and yet comparatively complex: you can't ask for much more. And it'll only get better from here.
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15.2% alc...decanted for 30 minutes...swwet, spicy fruit on the nose, but shy at the moment...sweet fruit, long on the palate...**/***** for now. One dimensional.
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Just couldn't wait and running out of storage. A little green on the nose upon initial boquet that gave way to the cherry. Sour Cherries, a little heat with a hint of raspberry???? Not as much Cherry cola as last year, I think I will wait before opening another bottle, at least a year. Another excellent bottle with potential to move a point or 2 up.
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Tasted only days after shipping so it might settle down more… Full red purple. Clean dustry black fruit with hints of chocolate on the nose. Full rich black/red fruit with very round balanced finish. Chocolate hints. Can see this getting better… 3/06
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10/22/2023 - CLOrta Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drink now, it’s just slightly past peak
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4/27/2021 - Jay A wrote: 90 Points
Seventeen years old and still going. Candied plum, cola and vanilla. This wine has lively fruit and still pretty primary. It is pretty smooth. Overall a good wine. I didn't know what to expect after 17 years ...it is a bit one dimensional and more obvious than I would have guessed.
My palate has changed over the years, and this is not really my cup of tea. I prefer a more classic Pinot with cherry fruit and more structure. Cola is not what I typically like in a Pinot.
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9/27/2020 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
surprisingly good. Lots of fruit. Almost port like nose. Pallette fills with juicy fruit good mouthful and a nice finish. Bricking color but still hanging in there.
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4/19/2020 - Chris Keller wrote: 92 Points
Garnet in color and getting lighter and browner finally after all these years. Although still kicking in the lots of fruit still present and very lively acidity on the palate and finish. Notes found were cherry blow pop, cola, vanilla, raspberry, lingonberry, earthy mushroom and white pepper. Drink now.
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11/29/2019 - Bobbusch Likes this wine: 91 Points
15 year Pinot?. Yup and was still rocking. Great balance and the fruit was showing well without the usual “ band aid” smell for an aged wine. Last one and would say drink within the year.
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1/8/2018 - Senso-beak wrote: 89 Points
Opened and poured. Quite nice and mature. Still has some KB power, showing mostly cola, hoisin, dark plum and berry notes. Hiding the ABV well on this night. Some humidity on the glyceric heat index, but not too bad. Last one...good run for these.
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5/17/2015 - sunalsorises wrote: 92 Points
Smooth fruity finish. Decent depth. Very nice.
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12/31/2014 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
15.2% alc. Ruby red center with orange rim. Explosive nose of dark cherry, raspberry, orange blossom, celery, and cocoa. The palate is deep and dark with cherry, raspberry, cocoa, and cola notes. This weighty wine is full-bodied with balanced acidity and tannins. Overall, this is exactly what a hedonistic, yet balanced wine, should provide. It is big and dark with some oak influence, as evidenced by the chocolate notes, but it is not unbalanced, which is quite a feat. While not a vibrant as the 04 Peay Sonoma Coast, it was still a fine wine.
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2/9/2014 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Second Sunday Group: Older California Pinots (Barb's): Cherry, spice, currant and red fruit aromas; bright. Cherry, cinnamon and raspberry flavors, with licorice and spice flavors on the finish.
My #2, Domino's #3
Group #1, 30 pts
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2/9/2014 - discoverwine wrote:
A bit past its prime. Lost the excitement. Drink up if you have any.
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12/31/2013 - Senso-beak wrote: 90 Points
Opened for New Year's Eve, in preparation of Rose Bowl! Paired with rack of lamb, au gratin potatoes, etc. Ruby clear, with heady humid aromatics of alcohol, deep thick layers of steeped strawberry, raspberry. On the palate, this full bodied, beefy pinot showing a bit of age...the fruits taking on more secondary notes, soy, oak, plum, cola, iodine and espresso. Reminiscent of an aged Zin in some ways without the spice.
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10/7/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Ripe dark cherry and spice box aromas. Dark cherry, coco, coffee and cinnamon flavors. Noticeable alcohol. Fully body with lengthy finish.
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3/23/2013 - Rojo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cherry cola, coffee and sweet aroma of ripe red fruits. Light-medium bodied with flavors of cherries, coffee and nice balance of acidity and fruits. Finishes long with chewy persistence. Drink up!
Second night, this wine really opened up. After the initial sweetness fades, a touch of acidity connects to the dark cocoa/coffee finish. 94.
A
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2/16/2013 - wcchang wrote: 93 Points
Very forward and fruity aroma with an almost overwhelming nose. Good well-structured body with balanced rich fruity flavor. It tastes great, but somehow wasn't the typical pinot noir I was expecting. Lower acidity, richer flavor combined with fuller body make this reminiscent of a cab profile. Still a great enjoyable wine. I would score this higher if you shift your paradigm a little bit.
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1/26/2013 - Wineshington Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is very lively, but I believe it has lost a step. Can't say that everyone in my group agrees with me. 92 is a compromise. Typically, we start the KB rankings at 93.
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10/31/2012 - astrauss wrote: 92 Points
Some sign of aging or rusting at the edges as the color is not a ruby red as younger KB wines are. Cherry cola on the nose with a touch of vanilla and soy. Dark cherry tea and a touch of allspice in the mouth. Sweet finish. Some alcohol noted as well. My wife liked this wine a lot and she is not a big red wine lover. I enjoyed it as well. Fruit held up better than I thought. Purchased from the winery and held in my cellar since 2007.
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10/30/2012 - MLwine wrote: 88 Points
Good fruit, but too alcoholic and monolithic.
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6/18/2012 - Senso-beak wrote: 91 Points
Opened for Birthday wine #2. PnP with Salmon. Agile pour with light ruby to clear with slight oranging. Dense action, heat and oak on the nose, with classic KB elements of molasses, black cherry, toast, even some scalded marshmallow. Maturing fruit nuances featuring brown turbinado, fermenting strawberry, soy, hoisin with a broad swath on the finish. Has lost some of the electricity, but exceptional nonetheless. Day two revealed darker elements, lots of black cherry, a little funk, and cola on the nose. Some ETOH. Briary and ripe on the long finish.
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5/21/2012 - DougLee wrote: 90 Points
Opened for a large family dinner. Everybody loved it. I got a taste. Healthy nose of red fruit, iodine, soil. Big and vivacious on the tongue with sweet tannins and a bold finish. Lower acidity. Impressive wine with a big personality. Not my favorite style but very good for what it is.
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1/13/2012 - dwanek wrote: flawed
Terrible. Prune smell and taste dominates. Stored at 55F. Disappointed.
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9/18/2011 - winotoo wrote: 90 Points
Not over the hill.
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8/24/2011 - jfont123 wrote: 92 Points
Paired with spicy flat steak. Memorable wine with notes of strawberry, cherry and some mushrooms...No need to wait, drink up.
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7/23/2011 - pelwart wrote: 92 Points
It is time to finish this vintage. The color was showing shades of rust. Decanted for an hour and it opened up nicely, not as full flavored as the bottle I had last year.
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6/24/2011 - lewisrise wrote: 92 Points
Good depth
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5/8/2011 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted 1 hour before serving.
Garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Nose of Briar patch, spices, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3 years plus or minus. Give it a little air beforehand.
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4/28/2011 - pjhr wrote: flawed
This bottle was unfortunately past its prime with an ultra-ripe prune flavor. (cellared at 55 F from winery)
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4/25/2011 - jctaylor wrote: 92 Points
Opened for Easter dinner. Tight and somewhat austere, it did open somewhat with air, but the fruit was muted. Saved the majority of the bottle for day two and what a difference! Creamy, sweet red fruit was smooth and full in the mouth. Not sure it is a 96, but still really awesome! Too bad it missed Easter dinner.
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4/15/2011 - jfont123 wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding. Drink now..
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3/18/2011 - S. Lorin wrote: flawed
turned; pruned when opened and never really came around - some fruit but caramel predominated and nowhere near its peak
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3/12/2011 - discoverwine wrote: 93 Points
Delicious Pinot Noir. Big, full, rich, silky but still well structured. The nose was almost overwhelming with berry flavors, vanilla, cherry cola cream, cedar and fresh herbs. The nose and palate were a little hot. Not surprised to see 15.2 abv. Even at that level the wine was still well balanced. Outstanding experience!
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12/14/2010 - CooGAR wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Been a while since I have had a wine this good. If you have some bottles of this, I suggest trying one right now. If you have one bottle of this, I suggest drinking it right now - it can't get any better! Phenominal balance and silkiness with a bit of tartness from cherry flavors. Nose very earthy with wet leather. Cherries, raspberry,and stawberry were standout friuts with some darker fruits showing as well. But this was not "light in the mouth" like other pinots tend to be that show the red fruits. Drank with a gourmet pizza of articokes, red onions, capers, etc. (no meats). Great wine!!
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11/29/2010 - jnanz wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Has evolved into a gorgeous wine. Rich raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit supported by notes of licorice, sassafrass and clove. Some notes of candied orange peel on th finish. Liquid silk. The creamy oak character has faded and the wine has maintained a good backbone to support the fruit. Absolutely delicious.
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7/26/2010 - drycab wrote:
This stuff is just singing right now. Too bad it was my only bottle.
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6/6/2010 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
This is a big wine. Not really a style I prefer but well made. Difficult to pair with food - it is food.
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4/16/2010 - Nutty08 wrote: 87 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks (sorry Dave) (Barbaresco): Obvious alcohol on the nose, port-like? And raisin. Pinot? I re-poured in a new glass to be sure. Same result. Candied cherry cola palate, though little if any heat. Lengthy vanilla cream and cola finish. I continue to have a Jekyl/Hyde reaction to KB.
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4/16/2010 - jimmythesaint wrote: 91 Points
Not as memorable as the first bottle but still quite enjoyable. The nose was refined with baking spice, dried fruit and old fashion soda pop. Finish was a tad short at first but opened in length with more air time. Did not have any burgundian old school qualities but still pleasant with dinner at Forbes Mill in LG.
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3/13/2010 - Colima74 wrote: 87 Points
Very homogeneous with red fruit. Feels heavy and almost flabby on the palate. Likely on way down, and better last time tried.
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2/12/2010 - cadamson wrote: 93 Points
Just damn enjoyable, I have to admit. Big? Yup? Lots of cola, oodles of fruit? Yup. But you are nuts if you do not get pleasure out of sipping this wine from this vintage. It defines yummy, over the top, non-pinot pinot. Lots of spice and a myriad of flavors run across the palate. The couple vintages after this have been one dimensional, but 2004 is simply good. Non-traditional, but tasty.
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1/30/2010 - Mrbuzz wrote: 93 Points
Classic KB RRV Pinot....dark and candied sandalwood spice fruit(raspberry/cherry), brown sugar, Dr Pepper tingle, dried herbs/rose petals. It's NOT Burgundy...it's classic Cali....big fruit and spice....very tasty!
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1/7/2010 - Senso-beak wrote: 95 Points
Crimson with minimal signs of aging. Enticing humid pinot aromas grip the senses with a profusion of cherry, raspberry and cola. Spicy pepper and brown sugar twangs the aromatic alcohol note as well. On the palate this has indeed evolved since release and my last tasting event. The exuberance of fruit has mellowed a bit, yet world class pinot structure abounds still. There's masses of vivid creamy cherry and raspberry, with barrel program influences of toasted cinnamon on a long finish. No detracting heat IMO, this has a long life ahead and no need to rush and guzzle them all down. I actually think some additional mature nuances will continue to reveal themselves. Beauty in a glass personified. Day two under vac-u-vin shows palate transformation into the plummy, molasses and additional turbinado secondaries.
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12/30/2009 - blaine wrote: 91 Points
Not my usual style, but wow we sure like this wine. Balanced, easy drinking (gulping?). Seriously, we are not a 'big' pinot family, but this is just so good, so balanced, so able to take the ripeness and alcohol. I was pleasantly surprised, but why should I be...every time I drink this wine it's like, "well, I don't really like big pinots but...". OK, there, I said it. I like Kosta Browne.
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12/16/2009 - keepitreal wrote: 86 Points
Same as the last bottle I remember, with slightly more alcohol in relation to the fruit. Reinforces my opinion that most domestic wines are best drunk young. Pleasant, but just that.
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12/5/2009 - TwistedArmadillo wrote: 88 Points
This vintage is loosing its luster and it is time to drink what you have left. I've been hold a few bottles to see how it would hold; although it is still a nice wine it is past its peak. It is interesting how it has aged (the whole reason why I held the wine) as it has really softened to the point that it is barely recognizable as a Pinot, and is more like a Syrah. This wine is jammy and a little sweet without the heat and earthy components typical of a Pinot. I have two more bottles, will likely drink one here in the next couple of days, the last bottle I may just hold as an experiment. This wine will never hold up to 2014 as indicated on the drinking window. Drink up.
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11/13/2009 - cawineaux wrote: 94 Points
Excellent! Bright fruit right out of the bottle. Over a four hour period of time this bottle went from bright red raspberry fruit to a darker creamier version of raspberry. The nose was fruity with a slight bit of earthiness. Wish I had more.
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11/3/2009 - hkfoebee wrote:
First bottle of KB for Sean. Alright showing as barely any heat was detected - although served at cellar temperature. The typtical 04 RR bottling one would come to expect from KB. Last bottle.
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10/29/2009 - elliotgl wrote: 85 Points
I have been accumulating KB wines since the 2004 vintage, RRV and Sonoma Coast and later the single vineyards as they were allocated to me and this is the first one I have opened to drink - with dinner- beef stew. What a total disapointment.In the glass deep ruby offering a nose of cherry,raspberry,light oak and maybe sandlewood. In the mouth - SWEET - I'd swear it was chaptalized as the only other wines I have had with that much up front sweetness were desert wines - This was a big round hedonistic fruit bomb that really didn't have the nose or palate of Pinot - In fact from the midpalate on it was a rather boring simple wine. My wife knew how the press raptured over Kosta Brown and immediately asked what was wrong based on my facial expression - I guess if there ever was a Parkerized wine this is it. Looking back a day later, if that bottle was tasted blind by me, I couldn't tell anyone that was Pinot Noir. I guess this is what makes the world go round - Thank heaven for the auction market - I may even make a small profit.
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10/22/2009 - pjhr wrote: 96 Points
Killer pinot! Just as wonderful as the bottle I had over 2 years ago.
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9/29/2009 - subir wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet color, with a jammy nose of cherries and dark fruits. Full bodied for a pinot, with some spicier flavors when in the mouth. Darker and jammier still on the second day.
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9/27/2009 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
Birthday wine drank in Lake Tahoe at Wolfdales. Actually a very nice wine with good depth and balance.
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9/15/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91. No notes.
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8/19/2009 - zheem wrote:
This wine seems to have come back into balance and is now very enjoyable, but I agree with other comments--drink soon or beware!
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8/8/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I would say drink it now. We put some chill on the wine so that we could track it as it warmed. Even as it came to room temp, it did not lose its way, nor show any heat edges. Brown spice, some elements of asian 5 spice, with candied apple and raspberry, too. There is some trailing acidity but letting this go any longer, IMO, is not going to improve the wine so get it wile the fruit is still center.
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7/26/2009 - Baggio wrote: 91 Points
Powerful, but lacking complexity.
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7/22/2009 - assaf wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with my note from June. This is just a pleasure to drink once it opens up after 30-60 minutes in the glass. Drank from a half bottle.
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6/17/2009 - assaf wrote: 95 Points
This is at a perfect place right now. So much so that I regret the ones I drank previously. Red fruit and Cola, mid to full bodied. Perfectly balanced and absolutely no heat. The finish lasts forever. This is just a beautiful wine. Wish I had more.
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6/13/2009 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
This bottle drank better than the last from August 2008. Dark color, spice and dark fruit on the palate. Long finish. No bitterness. Big Pinot, not for Burgundy lovers.
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6/6/2009 - hkfoebee wrote:
Delicious! I prefer this over the SC sibling from the same year. Still has plenty of life ahead... Glad to have 1 more bottle.
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5/24/2009 - cadamson wrote: 92 Points
Amazingly elegant, light, thought provoking and intellectual.... okay, kidding! This is big, hedonistic and somewhat simple....but delicious. Sometimes this type of wine fits the bill, and in this instance in delivered fun, lip smacking tastiness. Much better than the 05 and 06 versions. Lots of cola, confectioner sugar, blueberry. Warm it gets hot, but kept reasonably cool it delivers. Well integrated at this point, no hurry to drink up, though I do not think it is going anywhere either. Okay, so whine about lack of typicity all you want, stir the rumor pot on secret Syrah infusions.... this is a style of pinot that unabashedly says new world and in vintages like this, pull it off well. Just hope the 07's bring back some of the love for me, as I have lost it on the 05 and 06's.
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5/20/2009 - mreinitz wrote: 93 Points
Took a while to open up, but once it did it was thoroughly enjoyable. Very lush, with ripe red fruit and a hint of cola along with some background spice. Not at all over the hill.
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5/17/2009 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
A rockin, rich pinot. Open nose with a great floral, dark cherry, cola perfume. Rich and lively on the palate. Long, tasty finish with loads of cola and spice.
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5/5/2009 - cvvhrn wrote: 83 Points
I have to be honest here it just was not that good. I will NOT be buying any of thier wines on the secondary market as they simply are not worth the price IMHO. Hints of dark fruit on the nose with cresote and fennel on the palate.
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4/30/2009 - glg wrote: 92 Points
Pure RRV pinot with abundant, enticing fruit aromas. Expansive on the palate with only a trace of bite at the end. Cherries, plums and red fruits. Holding together very well.
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3/22/2009 - PVJC wrote:
Decent bottle of pinot but not particularly exciting -- I still find the Sonoma Coast a much better and more interesting wine.
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3/21/2009 - DougLee wrote:
crowd-pleaser
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3/11/2009 - Pool Boy wrote: 87 Points
Cherry cola and some spice. But I liked it more than I thought I would. 87pts.
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2/28/2009 - lbrent wrote: 87 Points
Strawberry/cherry nose with decent palate of the same and spice but hot and weak finish. Not very interesting.
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2/23/2009 - rmodak wrote: 88 Points
Ripe pinot with trace of heat evident, but not overwhelming. Still the lush red cherry fruit and baking spices provide adequate balance with food.
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2/21/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
Big, lush, jammy, yummy. Drink em' up!
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2/19/2009 - JFish wrote:
Big, sappy pinot, just dripping with fruit. Cola and cherries by the ton. Any heat from the alcohol is veiled behind the wall of fruit. Very good for this style. But my palate, she is a changin'.
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2/16/2009 - michaelgor wrote: 87 Points
decanted for ~ 2 hrs..a bright strawberry..red rasberry nose..which repeats on the palate, which seemed a little too sweat for our taste FWIW..the our..is not the regal our, but refers to my wife and I ..we are fortunate in that we have similar likes and dislikes in wine...this particular bottle was not integrated and had a disappointing hot finish..from reading other's notes, perhaps we should have waited at least another year, but, alas, we have no more bottesl
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2/16/2009 - chateaumiller wrote: 91 Points
OUTSTANDING
After hearing reports of this vintage going over the hill I was extremely happy with this. A bright cherry palate was the shining star but the real treat is finding that the oak has integrated nicely giving this bottle a beautiful balance. The alcohol has also backed off to the fruit as the fruit dominated the finish with no heat. This was my final bottle but would have no problem aging more if I had them. 15.2% EtOH
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2/13/2009 - goofy Yno wrote: 87 Points
strawberry nose with a cola hint. bright fruit with good balance. uninspiring.
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2/7/2009 - jvalanti wrote: 94 Points
My last bottle, which is a shame because this is better than it's ever been. Balance has improved. Still has a bit of heat, but oh so good. Plenty of life left - no need to rush on this one!
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2/2/2009 - Meerlust wrote: 92 Points
This is a dark-fruited wine with balanced acidity, a plush mouthfeel, and a long finish. Time has not done a disservice to this wine. The fruit has mellowed but the character of this wine has remained strong. This is an impressive wine that shows that Kosta Browne wines do not fall apart with a few years in the bottle.
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1/31/2009 - slywka7 wrote: flawed
Corky, musty nose. Cork in the flavors too but nice flavors of cherry, strawberry and smoke with a long finish. The parts were nice so too bad it was corked.
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1/18/2009 - darrel_f wrote:
Consistent with my previous notes - The nose says Pinot Noir, cherry and spice, on the palate this wine explodes with lush fruit with great acidity and balance to keep it all framed in optimum perspective. New world, yes, if you like old world burgandy, could you appreicate this one, yes! It's not over the top smack you in the face dark over extracted pinot (which I also like!). This wine is more constrained and balanced in my opinion when compared to many other central coast and rrv pinot's. Nice job here. Great food wine. Previously scored 95, my opinion has not changed.
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1/1/2009 - Opimian wrote: 94 Points
this is still my fav RRV blend wine they made. trade spices, cola, bright fruit, rich, smooth, opulent, and surpassingly hid its IMO high alcohol content extremely well. this bottle showed much better then my last, time has been kind to it. don't wait, enjoy today!!
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12/24/2008 - bound4er wrote: 89 Points
Meh. Cherry, sweet cinnamon, some alcohol, full bodied - a pinot style that I don't mind drinking from time-to-time but nothing that I want on a regular basis. My impressions have not changed on this wine from last year's note.
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12/23/2008 - zazoo wrote: 97 Points
Loved this wine and need to find more
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12/12/2008 - RJonesUSC wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Drinking beautifully right now. Not the typical pinot profile but an outstanding wine non the less.
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12/7/2008 - shaferguy91 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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11/28/2008 - smphelps wrote: 94 Points
Needs some time open, but after that amazing pure layered fruit and spice on a firm frame. Big and bold and for this style as good as it gets.
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11/9/2008 - bknysak wrote: 92 Points
Lush, more intergrated and forward than the previous bottle. Big, enveloping nose of black cherries, cola, and spice. Doesn't quite follow through on the palate with the same sensory intensity, but does show a seductive, lush texture. Yes, it is not a wine of subtlety, but delicious nonetheless.
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11/7/2008 - JFish wrote:
This wine has hit its stride (and probably peak). Drinking beautifully, just bursting with fruit. My last 2 bottles won't make it through the winter.
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10/31/2008 - Double D wrote: 94 Points
Big, rich smooth, clear and gone! The 05's and 06's will have to do.
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8/28/2008 - Double D wrote: 94 Points
Kind of light on the aroma, but a very nice medium heavy bodied RRV pinot. Nicely balanced and great with pork loin tonight. Can't imagine it will get any better with additonal aging but will leave the last bottle for 09.
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8/24/2008 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Whoa, what a difference two years makes. This is massive and dark. Should I say brooding? Not for the feint of heart. Dark fruit, mouth filling, bitter coffee on the finish. Served at cellar temp, so no heat noticable. A few ounces are saved for tomorrow.
Well, the four ounce pour left over showed bitter and hot. Not the best showing of this wine. Will hold the other three bottles and cross my fingers!
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8/13/2008 - Love4Vino wrote:
Wanting something big and yummy tonight, just popped and poured. Dark garnet color that seemed really weighty in the glass. The nose was intoxicating with dollops of rich ripe fruit (blackberries, dark cherries), lots of spice/white pepper. The palate was massive as I had expected with ripe cherry flavor that put the acidity in the background. Went really well with a grilled tri-tip. Got what I wanted and expected.
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8/5/2008 - Cheryl wrote:
2004 KB Russian River - 2nd place WOTN - the candiedness of the KB's was pretty well-balanced here and it was fantastic Lenny/Mike
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7/31/2008 - zheem wrote:
First impression after an hour of decanting is that tis wine is not standing the test of time well, or is in one of those awkward stages and it's worth waiting a while to open the next bottle. Lots of complexity with classic fruit and rrv spice, but its not coming together as a balanced whole. I've commented before about about a pleasant bitterness in this wine, but it seems less pleasant tonight. I will let this bottle sit for a night before I comment further. (Did get more balanced and pleasant on the second day)
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6/28/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 93 Points
Not exactly "pinot" but great stuff to drink.
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6/16/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
First time with the 04 RRV. Been waiting for 'the moment' and Father's Day with CR salmon seemed right. Decanted 2 hours (it opened considerably since first popped). Rich and spicey. The nose has cherries and straw/rasp-berries, caramel and some peppery spice. The palate is pretty heavy for a pinot and the flavors of red fruits spread thickly ofver the palate. Towards the finish pepper is noted as well as grainy tannin and a bit of acidity, making the finish smooth rather than lifting. The fat of the salmon could have used a more acidity from the wine. Really nice Cali pinot, but not the 'amazing' experience I was led to expect.
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6/14/2008 - raydawgone wrote: 96 Points
Dencanted 3 hours. Full body. Spicy pepper on front pallet. Highly concentrated, long finish with overtones of raspberry sweet tart. The smoothest, most well refined Pinot I've ever drank!
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6/8/2008 - ChrisR wrote: 90 Points
Black cherries, some initial oaky spice which receded fairly quickly with air, and a little hint of cola. Soft and round, but not nearly as heavy or ponderous as I was expecting (a Fragonard, not a Rubens). After a few hours at room temperature, a little bit of alcoholic heat became evident. Better the second night. Lacking in complexity, it was nonetheless a very easy wine to drink.
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6/3/2008 - KenK wrote: 95 Points
For RRV was stunning. Great aromas of deep rich concentrated cherry berry fruit with spicy edge. Palate followed thru with warm mouthcouting soft red cherry fruit plus nutmeg, cocoa, and allspice. Sweet fruit finish that lingered. Not a mind bender, but friendly crowd pleaser style that was simply yummy. Doubt it improves, but almost certain this holds for at least a few more years.
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5/19/2008 - SUN-J wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes. Deep dark garnet. Nose of sweet cherries, a little spice and some brown sugar. Palate was far more balanced than I expected. Lush mouthfeel but not super complex. Light to moderate acidity -- touch of heat in the medium finish. Just a nice RR pinot. Far more enjoyable than the bottle I tried a few years ago -- that seemed hot and out of balance -- this was pretty solid.
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5/15/2008 - ScottS wrote: 85 Points
Medium garnet red in color. Alcoholic & smokey nose with hints of mushroom & earth. Medium to full bodied wine where the red fruit is hidden beneath a layer of spices & earthy flavors & finishes astringent and acidic. I was wishing for more. This wine fell well short of my expectations.
50+5+11+14+5=85
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5/14/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91,PURPLE92
Tasted May 13, 2008.
No formal note taken. Just popped and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Fairly simple and straightforward nose and palate of cherries and berries. No secondary or tertiary flavors though. Deduct a couple of points for that. Everything seems well balanced. Presence on the palate was soft and supple which was a bit of a surprise. Add back a point or so for that. Drink over the next few years.
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5/9/2008 - beachnic wrote: 87 Points
I'm really dissapointed in this wine. I thought another year would open it up a bnch but it's not done much. Not much of a nose, high alcohol and pretty one dimensional. Sappy alcohol. Bleck!
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5/2/2008 - gunnm wrote: 91 Points
Opened for 30 min to warm up from cellar temp. Fragent nose, lots of bright cherries and strawberries on the palate. Definitely got oak after an hour into it, but not off-putting. Seems a step down from the Sonoma Coast.
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4/30/2008 - LikeABC wrote: 92 Points
popped and poured. perfect cork. deep red in color almost all the way to the edge. Big nose of ripe cherry, cola and spice. Huge flavors in the mouth: Black cherry, grilled strawberries, Dr. Pepper (or cola with spice) and bacon fat. A little trace of heat on the finish was the only negative... But this wine made me want to do push ups...don't worry, i didn't.
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4/21/2008 - zheem wrote:
No careful notes from this evening. The nose was rich RRV pinot, body rich and finish smooth. A very good example of the KB style.
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4/16/2008 - smphelps wrote: 94 Points
Amazingly pure fruit leading with cherries and finishing with strawberries. Clear garnet, long lingering finish and perfect balance. Improves after opening, nuances of spice and clove. Very direct, very foward and really good.
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4/6/2008 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Everybody's WOTN
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3/24/2008 - bluevespa wrote: 91 Points
Candy sweet nose that carries thru in the taste. Amazing fruit, but did not have the class of the Daniel Rion Nuit St Georges burgundy. But thats OK, because its new world and delicious. After 3 hours the sweetness overwhelmes.
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3/17/2008 - N2Vin wrote: 92 Points
Lots of strwberry and tea. delicate with a burgy flair.
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3/16/2008 - kris.h wrote: 93 Points
Good color. Complex nose with strawberry, cherry,spices and other things. Smells really good. The palate is rich and velvety with well integrated tannins and acidity. Lots of nice fruit. Medium length finish. This is my first taste of this wine, perhaps some of the hype is justified. It seems this wine is drinking really well at the moment. I'll try to save my remaining bottle for another 2 or 3 years. 50 + 5 + 13 + 17 + 8
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3/15/2008 - jameswm13 wrote: 92 Points
P-n-P. Love the spices. Nice acidity. Got better and better over the next 3 hours.
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2/24/2008 - Winetex wrote: 89 Points
89+
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2/15/2008 - DFC wrote: 93 Points
Doubled decanted and poured, and then consumed over 4 hours. Medium-bodied wine that is medium to dark ruby in color. On the nose, dark cherries, light smoke, and x-mas spice. On the palate, candied cherries, citrus, light oak, and more x-mas spice on the very long 30-40 second finish. Typically delicious KB Pinot...packed with fruit, this wine is not subtle, but it sure is enjoyable!
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2/10/2008 - keepitreal wrote: 87 Points
Solid domestic pinot. Rich fruit and vanilla over subtle earth and spice. Good but not anywhere in the league of the hype in my opinion.
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2/9/2008 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle. This wine for me is exactly what I'm looking for in a Russian River pinot. Holding quite well and is so good now I'm not sure it will improve. Hope the '05 evolves into a wine that is as good as the '04.
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2/8/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 92 Points
Wow...so this is what RRV pinot is all about. An explosive nose of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry...ripe and intense. Black cherry and raspberry notes on the palate...a wonderful mouthfeel and persistent finish. I could definitely get used to this...
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2/2/2008 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Effusive, rich and generous from the get go. Aromatics had loads of cherry, cranberry and spice. Palate was richly fruited and round - with sufficient acids underlying to hold it together. Pure and seamless. Very tasty and a big-time crowd pleaser.
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1/13/2008 - Opimian wrote: 91 Points
a very good but not great bottle of Pinot. dark and rich looking it takes some time to open and blow of the heat, well balanced considering the high alcohol, smooth, ripe bing cherries, not a lot of acid, some cola but not as much as i expected based on some of the other reviews. overall a nice bottle of wine, but not quite worth the hype.
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1/11/2008 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Awesome mouthfeel with ripe cherries on the palate. 50 second finish!!!
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12/23/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours.
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12/19/2007 - JFish wrote:
Upon opening, pouring, and sampling it was clearly a big, heady pinot with a giant, juicy mid-palate. I poured a glass and then ran some errands. After an hour in the glass the wine had tamed a bit. Earth, cola, dark/red cherries with good but not overly gripping acidity and no noticeable alcohol despite the 15.2% on the label. the 2nd and 3rd glasses were even better, paired with a roasted pork loan. Drinking very well right now with a good bit of air.
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12/15/2007 - gregg g wrote:
I'm posting on this wine because this is clearly the best of the several bottles I've tried since release. It improved exponentially over the night peaking on day 2 when we drained a few remaining pours. Simply put, the layers and complexity of the fruit, at this age, are pretty remarkable. Early on the cola dominates, but gives way to richly toned cherry. The underlying acidity pokes through occasionally but otherwise supporting. Extended finish that brings a smile. A definite crowd pleasure.
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12/11/2007 - RussW wrote:
Based on all the talk of the KB RRV's demise I also was moved to action and opened my first of a 6 pack. Well, lets just say the wine was showing very nicely for me last night and it was doing a great job of straddling the line between dark and bright fruit. There was some heat on the finish but not enough to be a distraction as it melded nicely with the spicy red fruited finish. I'll be finishing the remainder of the bottle tonight so we'll see how it holds up. At this point I am happy to have 5 more bottles and will likely finish them off over the next year.
On day 2 this was drinking even better as the balance was superb and the heat component on the finish was all but gone. From this perspective I would not be surprised if this wine is showing even better in a year. However, I do not think this will add additional complexity. I have enough left to follow it over the next year and beyond if warranted.
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12/11/2007 - Colima74 wrote: 90 Points
It is big in style, but there is good acidity to carry it, especially when first opened. In fact, it was best then, and two hours later it is getting to be a bit heavy and hot. But on pop and pour, this is bright, with cola and cherry and a clean palate. LC thought that it was barely true to its varietal character, being a bit bigger than an Arcadian, say. 4.0-
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12/9/2007 - AlexRed wrote: 88 Points
tasty cherry fruit with some RRV spice but a bit roasty, a bit hot, a bit stewed. that said, it was finished quickly.
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11/23/2007 - Louvin wrote: 88 Points
Roasted fruit and somewhat hot finish
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11/22/2007 - ecnemergut wrote: 93 Points
As before: very good, but not great.
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11/22/2007 - jvalanti wrote: 93 Points
My first KB. I was concerned that this would be an overdone mess, but I find it beautiful, with well delineated fruit and cola, with just a beautiful, silky mouthfeel. This would be a 95 but for some heat on the finish....
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10/27/2007 - JFish wrote: flawed
Corked
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10/26/2007 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Wine Spectator Wine Experience; 10/26/2007-10/27/2007 (New York): Tasting. WS#7. Lots of red cherry and faint cola hints, slight yl sweet. But very good density and balance with good acidity and texture throughout. Best now through 2009.
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10/26/2007 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
WS NYWE Top Ten tasting (Marriott Marquis): Full ruby red color. Forward tight black cherry with spice. Huge tight black cherry with stinging nettle acidity. Seems much tighterthat it was on release, but opened up nicely with some air and rounded out quite a bit. 93-94 pts.
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10/26/2007 - otisabdul wrote: 94 Points
2006 WS Top Ten Tasting (NYC): Ranked #7. $38. Represented on the dais by Michael Browne, who started the winery 10 years ago with no formal training. This wine is a blend of four vineyards (Cohn, Koplen, Amber Ridge, and Bly). The fruit was harvested in 2 weeks, rather than the normal 4-5 weeks. It had wonderful aromas and flavors of blackberry, strawberry, sassafras and cola. A chewy pinot, with serious guts yet a luscious mouthfeel. Long, long finish. HS noted that there was “no attempt to throttle back” on this wine. I enjoy that style. Drink now through 2011.
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10/21/2007 - bound4er wrote: 89 Points
A well made wine but nothing that blew me away. This was my first KB and I was spoiled a bit by the 2005 RRV that my neighbor opened right before I opened the 04. The 04 in comparison seemed heavy and over ripe. The 05 was more reserved and very "pretty" - what I like in a pinot. I am not sure if this wine will develop further in bottle - if I were to guess, I would say it won't.
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10/20/2007 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. After about 30 minutes, it was singing with ripe cherry flavors. A winner.
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10/3/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92,PURPL93
Tasted October 3, 2007. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking in areas. Really attractive nose of black raspberries, black cherries, black berries and just a hint of thistle. Rich and juicy flavors of black raspberries, baked plums, mixed berries and just a hint of candied fruit on the medium to long finish that was actually quite pleasing. Medium to vibrant acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Drink or hold. No hurry.
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9/25/2007 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Deep, dark cherry. If the Burgundy fans want it austere, so be it.
This wine rocks!!!
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9/22/2007 - silvercup wrote: 92 Points
Thick and extracted. Almost black to the rim. Low acidity and smooth tannins. Definitely smells of Pinot with notes of sweet pork fat and cola leading to graphite, plum and strawberry with a little hint of sage. There is also the nice Pinot musk, clove, dry earth and savory. In the mouth, it is very full bodied with pork fat leading to graphite, plum and strawberry. With more air, more earth showed through. Very long, complex finish of cola and pork with cranberry. Very silky, but just too much, too thick, too heavy for me.
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9/18/2007 - Jay A wrote: 94 Points
Very impressive. We tasted 2005 Ktuch with this wine since there is a student/mentor relationship between the two wineries and both are from RRV. The 2005 Kutch was very ripe, very fruity, interesting and complex. It also had a nice texture to it. The Kutch wasn't necessarily flabby, but a little more acid would have made it a better overall wine.
The Kosta Browne had darker fruit. Much more balance and well structured. I was a bit surprised considering that 2004 was considered the hotter vintage. KB was much more subtle and refined.
I would give the Kutch 90-91, but the KB was flat out awesome.
Dinner @ 12th Ave Grill with Greg Spencer and Jason.
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9/16/2007 - zheem wrote:
First bottle of this I've opened from this vintage. RRV is usually a favorite of mine from KB and this is no exception. Rich and enticing aromas of fruit and spice. Enough has been written about this wine. May I add one observbation about the intriguing taste that begins In the mid pallette and continues into the finish --somewhat bitter, almost like the bite that comes with Mocha or dark caramel, but none of the cloying characteristics of either--almost lite. Overall a great wine.
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8/29/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
BIG FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, CHERRIES, RASPBERRIES, AND BLACK CHERRIES. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH.
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8/25/2007 - pjhr wrote: 96 Points
Definitely worthy of the accolades! Incredible nose with rich red cherry and dark berry flavors with hint of earthy and spice notes. Wonderful mouth feel and long long finish. Well crafted with balance and structure that hides the alcohol imperceptibly.
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8/16/2007 - dmatley wrote: 94 Points
If not peaking, certainly hitting its stride right now. Great mouthfeel and lovely spice! Very enjoyable with grilled tri-tip.
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7/29/2007 - darrel_f wrote: 95 Points
The hype is there, I am still convinced that I would have had this blind I would have picked it as one of the top notch California Pinot's I've ever consumed. The nose says Pinot Noir, cherry and spice, on the palate this wine explodes with lush fruit with great acidity and balance to keep it all framed in optimum perspective. New world, yes, if you like old world burgandy, could you appreicate this one, yes! It's not over the top smack you in the face dark over extracted pinot (which I also like!). This wine is more constrained and balanced in my opinion when compared to many other central coast and rrv pinot's. Nice job here. Great food wine.
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7/24/2007 - keithgg wrote: 94 Points
Parker's note in HG prompted me to open this bottle. PN is not one of my favorite grapes but I was very impressed with this. The ever-reliable Donna (who drinks everything blind because she could care less what name is on the label) really loved it.
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7/24/2007 - keepitreal wrote: 89 Points
Ripe raspberry and black cherry, pine sap and spice. Silky mouth feel with maybe a hint of pepper. Drinking beautifully and benefits from a slight chill as the alcohol might be high for some. Nice example of Russian River Pinot Noir. For the record, this note was based on a 375ml bottle.
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7/19/2007 - smokie wrote: 94 Points
Simply outstanding. My friends thought this was the best pinot that they have ever had. Still don't understand Parker's notes.
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7/19/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
On the riper side but it worked for the meal. Nose of brown sugar and red fruits. Lots of red raspberry, cola and vanilla. Will finish the last few ounces tomorrow and add a closing remark. 24 hours later, with the bottle receiving a bit of a chill and then coming up to room temp, some green apple, the red raspberry and some noticeable acidity with a touch of warm heat. Neither syrupy nor thick, the acidity and the red fruit carry the wine and I like it.
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6/17/2007 - jimmythesaint wrote: 95 Points
Worth the hype!
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6/11/2007 - ecnemergut wrote: 90 Points
Good stuff. Cherry nose and velvet smooth in the mouth. Lots fruit and some spice. Some heat on the end.
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6/8/2007 - tdalton wrote:
very full, deep and rich nose of smoke, chocolate, cola. The palate is very full. Lots of sweet fruit and acidity, but very high heat from the 15.2 alc. Redolent of reluctantly rotting refuse. Overall, very enjoyable. Overpowered sockeye salmon. Would be better with some pork loin or something more robust. Almost like a CDP more than a pinot. We decanted for an hour; another hour probably would have done better.
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5/29/2007 - dmatley wrote: 94 Points
With so many identical tasting notes posted on this wine it seems silly to repeat the same comments. What stood out the most for me was the huge yet focused fruit, the velvety mouthfeel, the classic Russian River Valley spice and on the downside a slight alcohol nose especially noticeable when the glass was near empty.
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5/26/2007 - mdstenner wrote: 92 Points
My first KB and no disappointment!! Massive fruits, big finish, just enjoyed it for the sensory experience it provided!
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5/25/2007 - popquizkid wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful nose of cherry cola and clove. Great mouthfeel with a nice tannic structure that does not stand out but holds the wine together. Great bottle of pinot.
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5/25/2007 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
As close to as perfect as any Calif. pinot I've ever tasted. Awesome effort and much appreciated.
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5/22/2007 - zheem wrote:
Remembered as delicious, but no notes.
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5/5/2007 - clubortho wrote: 93 Points
A great bottle of wine. Great fruit, well balanced. A hint of earth. Minor heat. Just what I love in Great Pinot Noir
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4/21/2007 - mmyette wrote: 96 Points
Unbelievable. This wine was so soft and fragrant, feminine and yet vibrant, with bing cherry, huckleberry, and vanilla notes. the finish was among the greatest i have ever experienced in a pinot. Easy to see why these guys have a cult following.
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3/25/2007 - matthen wrote: 93 Points
This wine is still wound rather tight and has closed aromas for the first hour, but gushes with spice, dark fruits, cherry, blueberry and raspberry. The finish is nice, but not sensational. I think this should get better in a year or two.
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3/20/2007 - jbposell wrote: 94 Points
Probably the best Pinot I've had this year and it may hold the title for some time to come! Decanted for 90 minutes, during which time I couldn't keep my nose out of the top of the decanter -- YUM! The palate was smooth, no heat, surprisingly little tannin, and gorgeous RRV fruit that just kept gushing and gushing. Really a joy. I know everyone says this will get better with more age, but I am not sure this is built for the long-haul, maybe a few more years max. Not sure I can wait...
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3/11/2007 - PinoyNoir wrote: 94 Points
initial heat at first, when paired with food that went away and beautiful fruit came forward
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3/8/2007 - Ali wrote: 90 Points
I bit of heat a first, but mellowed out nicely over a couple hours
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2/15/2007 - dbkitc wrote:
Pure ruby with little lightening at rim. Wild nose of cherry cola, sugar syrup, red meat and clove. It’s got a lot going on. Very rich flavor profile on the palate, but it is not heavy or overly alcoholic to me. Juicy, tangy fruit – certainly with a portrayal of sweetness – that hits at the front, middle and back of the mouth. Seems a little primary, like window dressing without the core oomph that makes a wine truly great. That said, I like this a lot, think this winery is making some of the best pinots in California, and am happy to support for years to come. I will save other bottles for 3 to 5 years. (17.5+?)
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2/14/2007 - JScott wrote: 90 Points
Nice but not otherworldly. Maybe I don't get this producer; I sure don't (so far) get the hype..........
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2/9/2007 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
One of my favorite pinots. Has everything I like about a pinot and more. Kudos Michael for making such a great wine.
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2/9/2007 - pakabear wrote: 96 Points
Smell is average, but the taste is absolutely amazing! One of the best Pinot's if you like sweeter wines.
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2/4/2007 - Frank Murray III wrote:
OC Kosta Browne Pay It Forward Offline (Sage in Newport Beach, CA): Another bottle of sexy aromatics. Like smelling a pastry bakery at the holidays...'bout knocked me over when it was poured. Velvety, more spicier than the 2003 RRV, with plum, cinnamon, cola, and nice lift of acidity. Probably will be as good as the 2003 in time but will show more punch and weight due to vintage signature.
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1/31/2007 - Vette Z06 wrote: 94 Points
Great juice! Decanted 3.5 hours. Will be wounderful in a year or two.
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1/26/2007 - Tel007 wrote:
After about 30 mins of air this opened up into a really great pinot noir that drinks very well now.
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1/17/2007 - Mr Cabernet wrote: 95 Points
Surprisingly balanced for such a high alcohol content wine. We loved the deep cherry flavor and great finish.
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1/14/2007 - popquizkid wrote: 93 Points
cherry, cola, and spice on the nose. This wine exhibits a great mouthfeel and texture which I think is the strength of this wine. As it decanted the oak became a little more prominent than I would like--but none the less this is great bottle of California Pinot. A great deal if purchased directly from the winery at release price.
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1/1/2007 - PatLee wrote:
Expressive nose. Dark cherry, spice, and some cola on the palette. Sweet, ripe California fruit and no noticeable tannins. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Very enjoyable and went well with heavy beef dish.
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12/29/2006 - win wrote: 92 Points
Sampled at large tasting - minimal notes.
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12/29/2006 - wineismylife wrote:
Took to Mike B's for Bachanalia. 1 of 3 favorite reds that night. Drinking surprisingly well.
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12/25/2006 - wineack wrote: 90 Points
I appreciated this wine more than the last bottle. It is still not my favorite style of PN.
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12/17/2006 - wineack wrote: 89 Points
This is not my favorite style of Pinot Noir, but I guess I can see what the excitrment is about. There is plenty of ripe, raspberry, chery fruit with exotic spice elements. There is a bit too much raisin flavor and heat on the finish. Is there some residual sugar, too?
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12/14/2006 - puterdewd wrote: 95 Points
Silky smooth with a long finish.
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12/10/2006 - E wrote: 88 Points
Weird how i seem to be the only one who thinks the Sonoma is the better of the KB's...this bottle was definitely better than the first, but still not in the same league as the Sonoma IMHO
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12/3/2006 - luko wrote:
While I believe in this producer having had many excellent bottles, not seeing the hype at this stage on this wine. Nice wine, but a bit tight and angular. Of course lots of time to see how things develop.
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11/24/2006 - DCHeel84 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours but still very tight. Will hold off on these for awhile.
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11/23/2006 - jnanz wrote: 97 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours. Gorgeous color in the glass. Gobs of berry flavor dominated by ripe raspberries (some cherry and strawberry in there as well). A touch of vanilla (from the oak?) and a bit of spice (want to say clove) round it out. The mouth feel was amazing, liquid velvet. Drank alone, not with food.
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11/17/2006 - GreenDrazi wrote: 94 Points
The Atlanta "Not Lori" Off-line (Rathbun's): Huge nose. Big, rich flavors of dark cherry, cinnamon and anise spice along with a touch of orange peel and some vanilla. A full bodied wine that builds on the palate leading to a full and long finish.
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11/14/2006 - beachnic wrote: 91 Points
91-92PTS...Bought three and popped one to see what all the fuss was about. Extremely smooth but a tad closed in the nose and taste. This Pinot will definately benefit from a year or two of bottle age. This wine just made #10 wine of the year in the Wine Spectator top 100 list. They gave it a 96. I frankly don't see that (To get a 96 it better blow my socks off from the get go...better have great aromatics with great concentration and a stellar finish). I have two bottles left and will wait at least a year to drink the next one.
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11/3/2006 - budman wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Sweet cherries and a sweet, superb mouthfeel.
This wine was everything I hoped it would be!!!
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10/23/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 3.5 hours. Bottle drank better w/o food.
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10/22/2006 - pinotwinelover wrote: 88 Points
I just can't love these wines regardless of hype. First they are not made for food. At least this wine had some pinot characteristics, but what happens with this wine is that the style is a crowd pleaser to be sure, but the purity that I enjoy is just not there. Well made, just not my style.
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10/22/2006 - shaferguy91 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3.5 hours.
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10/21/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 95 Points
Getting better with each bottle. This wine was the hit of Chris' wedding. Starts with an incredibly expressive nose. Hard to believe this wine could improve with age it's so good now but I bet it does. Kudos Michael Browne.
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10/1/2006 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Darker and more complex than the Sonoma Coast consumed at the same time. Dark cherry and spice on the palate with a long finish. Good stuff!
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9/30/2006 - hudamang wrote: 93 Points
Poured from 375 ml bottle. Delicious as always. Initial whif of ripe pinot fruit. Very tasty...I would say a mixture of strawberry and rasberry jam as well as some vanilla extract. It has a sweet taste that lingers for quite a while. The finish is what's impressive on this wine. It coats the tongue and makes the tongue say, "Damn, I want more!" Rich and tasty but it did have a lil heat as well. Sometimes I smelled the nice pinot fruit while other times I smelled strong alcohol.
Served with a duck leg/shitake dish as well as a italian squash dish prepared at home, it was a nice Sat evening drink. Pairs very well with food.
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9/20/2006 - EPounds wrote:
On opening, the nose was closed and remained fairly restrained over two hours of being in a decanter (before we finished it). This is the most noticeable difference from the last 03 RRV that I opened which had a huge nose. On the palate, very little "opening up" was necessary. This Pinot is explosive will all kinds of berry fruit on the entry, continuing to the finish. There is also a decent amount of oak flavors in there, but they are well integrated. The tannic structure that is there is fairly soft, but this wine's complexity seems like it will improve the wine over time. I may wait a year to try another bottle. This is great stuff.
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9/16/2006 - flashvictor wrote: 94 Points
Medium ruby color leads initially to a tight nose of black cherry which carried into a palate of mostly cherry, pepper and minerality. This was a very average wine on day one, but on day two this was singing with scents of cherry and earth. The palate carries additional cherry adding blackberry and rasberry while all wraped in a wonderful mouthfeel. I will not try any additional bottles for 2 -3 years.
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9/8/2006 - AlexRed wrote:
had at large dinner. Didn't take proper notes.
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8/20/2006 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 1 hour day before. Expected more, and opened a Martinelli 2000 Pinot instead. Wine was excellent next night, but exhibited a rich deep chocolate candied cherry profile. Good, but not worth the hype and the hunt.
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8/11/2006 - prafferty wrote:
My first 04 RR from Kosta Browne. Relatively restrained aromatically at this stage, at least in comparison to the 2003. Bright red fruits, a hint of something like menthol and maybe a little bit of heat as it warms up from cellar temperature. In the mouth, this really shines. Fantastic mouthfeel with great presence of fruit and liveliness leading into a mouthwatering finish. I'll be sitting on the rest of my stash for a while but these are always a treat to try young.
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8/7/2006 - DFC wrote: 93 Points
Great aromatics, silky mouthfeel, and fantastic balance! Shared with friends out to dinner, so I didn't bother to focus on more specific descriptors this time. Suffice to say though, another winner from KB!
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8/4/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Very rich berry aromas on the nose, which matches the palate. Great fruit, at first showing more dark berries, then finishing with a trace of spice. Fruit is nicely balanced by acidity. Sweet tannins really show nicely on the finish. While I'd never mistake this for a Burgundy, this is a great example of making a powerful and intense wine that still shows nice balance. Great value wine, I'd say 91 or 92 points.
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8/4/2006 - olm2000 wrote: 95 Points
wonderful...can't wait for the 04 vineyard designates!
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7/26/2006 - hudamang wrote: 94 Points
Nice mouthfeel. Sweet ripe fruit. Very nice :)
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7/24/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
NYC KB-fest (Ouest): A little reticent at first but really picked up weight with some air. Candied cherries and rasperries with hints of spice and cola. Fairly full in the mouth, but not at all heavy. Very nice, but I think this needs substantial time to let the fruit settle down a bit and have the oak integrate a little more. The wine certainly has ample stuffing to last. I preferred the '03 better at this stage, but I think that this will be a better wine than that one down the road.
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7/19/2006 - KevinP wrote: 90 Points
At Matyson, with Jane and Chris. Hot and huge and a bit disjointed when popped and poured. Evolved over time, and showed tremendous fruit, structure and acid. Will wait at least 6 months before opening another....or decant if I can't wait.
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7/14/2006 - jeff nowak wrote: 89 Points
medium bodied, but rather dark in color. i felt the midpalate lacked a bit, and that's an important component for me. there were no harsh edges, and i was pleased that the wine did not convey heavy alcohol, or too much forest floor. nevertheless, this was a wine that did not grab my attention, despite it's obvious pedigree.
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7/8/2006 - GreenDrazi wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hr’s. Big and wonderfully vibrant nose of dried dark cherries, pomegranate, hints of earth and a trace of minerals that follow through and broaden significantly on the fine, velvet palate and are nicely layered along with a streak of vanilla, some clove and dark spice that increase towards the back of the palate. Great concentration of flavors and good acidity throughout with a very full and lingering finish. Has a better nose and more layering than the ’03 had at this same point in time in its development. Can be enjoyed now with 3 hr’s decant time, but should continue to improve over the next 2+ years.
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6/25/2006 - E wrote: 86 Points
Uh oh, where is the fruit? AWOL? Nothing came to the fore even after 3 hours in the decanter. We went gaga over the 2004 KB Sonoma, yet this received a higher rating by Spectator. Could not detect any problem with the bottle. Any body else had a similar experience with thes two KB releases? At least Daniel's chef tasting at St. John rocked. It was:
Avocado "ball" containing Kobe beef, sungold Tomato, aoili, in a tomato butter. Beautiful and delicious.
Bigeye tuna BLT w poached quail egg and chive vinagrette. Sublime
Wildwood Farms Vegetable soup with lobster ravioli
Herbed gently cooked King salmon with lemon aramini ..... Best salmon ever...cooked on TOP of the oven at very low heat....melted like butter
Moulard duck with coconut crusted foie gras, butter poached peaches, peach consomme, roasted baby onion....coconut crusted foie...where did the inspiration for this come from, Daniel? Delicious
Pine nut semi fredo with olive oil lemon cake and shirley plums...a perfect yin & yang, sweet and sour
Count Caroline & I as Daniel Lindley's biggest fans.....St. John is certainly one of the best restaurants anywhere
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6/3/2006 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
wow!! big bold but perfectly balanced. no heat, nothing out of place just full throttled fruit. my wife say this may be the best wine she's EVER had.
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6/1/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
Another great bottle. As good as this pinot is now I think it is still going to improve with age. Note to self - try to keep you hands off this wine for at least another year. Lots of luck
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5/27/2006 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
Wow, what a great pinot. While this wine is drinking great well now it should be even better with some age. As great as the '03 version of this wine is the '04 is going to be even better with age. I love the dark cherry and blackberry components of this wine. Kudos to Michael Brown for making such a great wine. I love it.
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5/19/2006 - pkwoods wrote:
This was an extremely concentrated pinot. Very dark color. Very bold nose and flavors. Nothing light about this sucker. Going to let other bottle sit for quite a while.
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5/14/2006 - Winetex wrote: flawed
Grossly corked.
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5/13/2006 - Dteng wrote: 93 Points
Does KB make bad wine? I know I tend to rave about their wines, but seriously I have not had any bad bottles. Consistently enjoyable and often times mindblowing. This bottle was popped and poured. Pure, concentrated, lengthy. Good acidity, balance and delineation. Though I did not feel the heat in my belly, I could only drink a glass and a half as I could feel the 15.2% in my head. (Got to get up early to go hiking in the AM). Anyway, KB remains my favorite Cali pinot.
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5/9/2006 - Eliot wrote: 94 Points
Incredible wine for its youth. Light and airy at first, an hour after opening it had depth and character - spice, jammy fruit, touch of heat on the end.
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5/6/2006 - Mattswines wrote: 94 Points
Full of spice, cedar, and tobacco... underlying flavors of red fruits and buried deep are some floral notes on the nose. Palate of red fruit/cigar box dominant. Heat begins to show a bit as bottle warmed... don't think it will be there as everything integrates more. Ripe, sweet tannins on the medium length finish. A wonderful bottle of wine and incredible value. If you have lots, drink one now... otherwise, 2007-2013.
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5/3/2006 - Stephan O wrote: 94 Points
Wow; the three or four notes here to date make me feel as though I'm vastly overrating this, but those are the breaks, as they say. I find that this is performing incredibly well, especially given that it's barely a baby and costs less than $40. It's explosive on the nose: raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry are all rolled into one, plus there's some cocoa and floral spice to add to the complexity. The palate is more of the same, and though it approaches volatility on the alcohol, that's almost a good thing: we can probably rest assured that it'll chill out after a year or two, and right now it just seems like a sign of admirable ripeness. Exuberant, affordable, and yet comparatively complex: you can't ask for much more. And it'll only get better from here.
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4/17/2006 - ScottS wrote: 92 Points
Definately needs air and time.
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4/12/2006 - CO CHRIS wrote:
15.2% alc...decanted for 30 minutes...swwet, spicy fruit on the nose, but shy at the moment...sweet fruit, long on the palate...**/***** for now. One dimensional.
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3/31/2006 - auto wrote: 90 Points
Just couldn't wait and running out of storage. A little green on the nose upon initial boquet that gave way to the cherry. Sour Cherries, a little heat with a hint of raspberry???? Not as much Cherry cola as last year, I think I will wait before opening another bottle, at least a year. Another excellent bottle with potential to move a point or 2 up.
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3/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Tasted only days after shipping so it might settle down more… Full red purple. Clean dustry black fruit with hints of chocolate on the nose. Full rich black/red fruit with very round balanced finish. Chocolate hints. Can see this getting better… 3/06
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