Sour cherry on the nose, notes of dark fruit on finish. It’s in fine shape although not sure any more time will tease anything further from it. Good quality California pinot, but lacks that delicate nature and finesse that is the style of the past few years from the top producers
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Decant and returned to bottle 2 hours prior. Clean, med ruby/red. Big proper nose. Med body, lean/astringent, cola, red/black fruit profile, ideal integration, dryer than usual KB Pinot. Very long finish with some tartness. Nothing off, winery direct, $100
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I prefer a more elegant French style. Nonetheless, the wine shows an interesting and very good version of a loud California cranberry/blueberry, lemon/grapefruit and spice pinot. Long finish of bright acidity. A full force CA pinot that has softened nicely in the cellar over the years.
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What a fantastic wine from KB! Enjoyed with a porterhouse steak from Del Frisco on Christmas Day! Opened for 45 minutes to give this very dark, heavier feeling with tastes of dark cherry and other dark fruits. There was a little spice up front before you were consumed by the very silky texture and a lovely long finish. This wine has aged nicely and still has life left in the bottle. Sadly, I’m done with this vintage but looking forward to more recent ones. Enjoy it if you still have any in the cellar!
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Spectacular on opening, improved after 2 hours in decanter. Darker more serious blue and black fruits as compared to most CA pinots, and stood up admirably to the Opus and SQN. About 2/3 of the bottle remained at the end of the evening, and it was throughly enjoyed over the following 3 days, subjectively improved in the interim. Not a pinot for the faint of heart. Can drink now, but should improve with another 3-7 years of bottle age. Amazing wine.
2012 Opus One: 96 2012 Sine Qua Non Stock Syrah: 95 2015 Kosta Brown Keefer Ranch Pinot: 94 1996 Domaine Tollot-Beaut Corton Bressandes: 94 2010 Domaine Janasse Vielles Vignes CDP: 94 2015 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Pinot: 93
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Well balanced, strawberry and cherries, fairly light to me for a KB, not much of a finish. Perhaps just not a great bottle, but a bit disappointing for what usually is a beauty.
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Extremely nice without getting to the "WOW". Medium bodied, really nicely balanced. sweet dark cherry and strawberry fruit on nose and palate. Lovely balance on the palate as well - with smooth tannins and a long finish.
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My last bottle...ouch! Yes, this wine has more time left in the bottle (I do have more KB but not this vineyard). I personally see a drink window of 2019 (so I added a year - but I do think it was the right thing to do) to 2025. Drink this with grilled lamb chops (Greek style) and it worked very well.
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Possibly the best K-B pinot we've had. Decanted for 3 hours and were surprised by the beauty of the fruity nose when we poured. Constantly evolving with cherry, pomegranate, spice, and earthy notes coming into play and then retreating. Great mouthfeel and persistence. Excellent aftertaste. Unmistakably a Russian River wine. Bravol! It should have at least 4 more years of great drinking for those who have some in their cellar.
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Some cherries and other red fruits on the palate, not much on nose. This drinks alone or with food, in this case cheese and pate appetizers before the main meal. A nice finish.
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Beautiful nose with a bouquet of red fruit and deep full raspberry. Light heavyweight body with beautiful and elegant notes of red fruit. Lovely 20-30 second finish with a buttery end. Terrific wine with unusual elegance for a California Pinot. Better than many other Kosta Brownes I've had. Standout.
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getting better with a little age...actually impressed by the ability of these grapes to hold on in their fullness until now (still have another bottle - another year). The aroma is of red fruit (think boysenberry)with light pine; flavors of red fruit and slight alcohol. Long lasting legs on the glass match the long finish on the wine. Absolutely drinking perfect now, but can't wait to find the PEAK on this wine. If you only have one bottle - I would drink this year or next - like they say "everyone has an opinion".
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A lovely and interesting effort from Kosta Browne. The nose on this was floral and aromatic with lavender and other enticing aromas. This definitely offered some complexity of flavor and diversity of taste. Both dark and red fruit intermingled and I swear I picked up a bit of caramel notes in the glass. Some blue fruit also emerged. Very smooth on the palate and nice length on the finish. It was truly drinking beautifully and kept my interest from beginning to end.
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I opened this when our neighbors came over for cards on 3/30/19. It had a deep, rich and ripe nose of barnyard, smoke, black cherry, raspberry and baking spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe and dry with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cranberry and spice. 92+
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One of the best around...much bigger than your typical Pinot but not in a way that feels unnatural. Needs some air time. Wish I was more sober by the end of this bottle.
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Strong showing. Much tighter initially than most kosta’s. More structured but began to open up after 3 hours in bottle. Give this 2-3 years before opening the next one.
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1/19/2024 - dutchmark wrote: 91 Points
Sour cherry on the nose, notes of dark fruit on finish. It’s in fine shape although not sure any more time will tease anything further from it. Good quality California pinot, but lacks that delicate nature and finesse that is the style of the past few years from the top producers
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10/27/2023 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nicely balanced, with red cherry and cola flavors balancing sweet spice.
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10/5/2023 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decant and returned to bottle 2 hours prior. Clean, med ruby/red. Big proper nose. Med body, lean/astringent, cola, red/black fruit profile, ideal integration, dryer than usual KB Pinot. Very long finish with some tartness. Nothing off, winery direct, $100
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7/22/2023 - davidb18 wrote: 92 Points
I prefer a more elegant French style. Nonetheless, the wine shows an interesting and very good version of a loud California cranberry/blueberry, lemon/grapefruit and spice pinot. Long finish of bright acidity. A full force CA pinot that has softened nicely in the cellar over the years.
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2/24/2023 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
As delicious as the last bottle!
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2/22/2023 - mreinitz Likes this wine:
Delicious - still going strong.
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2/10/2023 - SCosgrove Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved it.
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12/30/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic KB! Delicious dark ripe cherry and spice on the nose and palate with silky texture and a long finish. Drinking well!
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12/25/2022 - wthad4 Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a fantastic wine from KB! Enjoyed with a porterhouse steak from Del Frisco on Christmas Day! Opened for 45 minutes to give this very dark, heavier feeling with tastes of dark cherry and other dark fruits. There was a little spice up front before you were consumed by the very silky texture and a lovely long finish. This wine has aged nicely and still has life left in the bottle. Sadly, I’m done with this vintage but looking forward to more recent ones. Enjoy it if you still have any in the cellar!
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12/9/2022 - Grapetimescomin wrote: 92 Points
Strawberry and cola. Restrained enough for a KB. Very enjoyable. If you like KB style wines, then you will love this.
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11/9/2022 - bobadopolis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smith Dinner, 11/05/22
Spectacular on opening, improved after 2 hours in decanter. Darker more serious blue and black fruits as compared to most CA pinots, and stood up admirably to the Opus and SQN. About 2/3 of the bottle remained at the end of the evening, and it was throughly enjoyed over the following 3 days, subjectively improved in the interim. Not a pinot for the faint of heart. Can drink now, but should improve with another 3-7 years of bottle age. Amazing wine.
2012 Opus One: 96
2012 Sine Qua Non Stock Syrah: 95
2015 Kosta Brown Keefer Ranch Pinot: 94
1996 Domaine Tollot-Beaut Corton Bressandes: 94
2010 Domaine Janasse Vielles Vignes CDP: 94
2015 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Pinot: 93
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8/23/2022 - joelmark3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Young but exhibits power that is reserved for great wines....needs 5-10 years of cellaring
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8/13/2022 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 96 Points
raspberry, cranberry and strawberry. great pinot . only question is it worth the price
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7/21/2022 - spendergast Likes this wine: 94 Points
A nice PN with notes of dried cherry, leather, minerals and spice with well integrated tannins. Paired well with grilled salmon.
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5/28/2022 - Grappa Cellar wrote: 90 Points
good fruit. bit thin on texture
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5/22/2022 - azwino wrote:
Paired with oven baked cedar salmon. No formal notes. Decanted for aboutan hour. Great aroma and flavor ... just not as powerful as i would expect.
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5/20/2022 - Kiteman12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose: dark fruit - plum, dark Cherry, chocolate
Palate: more dark fruit. Nice linger. Great with food.
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4/17/2022 - BostonSOMM Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well balanced, strawberry and cherries, fairly light to me for a KB, not much of a finish. Perhaps just not a great bottle, but a bit disappointing for what usually is a beauty.
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3/18/2022 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Wine was open and accessible. Longer finish
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9/4/2021 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Extremely nice without getting to the "WOW". Medium bodied, really nicely balanced. sweet dark cherry and strawberry fruit on nose and palate. Lovely balance on the palate as well - with smooth tannins and a long finish.
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9/2/2021 - Freedom1095 Likes this wine:
Kozue
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8/31/2021 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle...ouch! Yes, this wine has more time left in the bottle (I do have more KB but not this vineyard). I personally see a drink window of 2019 (so I added a year - but I do think it was the right thing to do) to 2025. Drink this with grilled lamb chops (Greek style) and it worked very well.
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8/1/2021 - budman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Keefer never disappoints.
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6/13/2021 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Possibly the best K-B pinot we've had. Decanted for 3 hours and were surprised by the beauty of the fruity nose when we poured. Constantly evolving with cherry, pomegranate, spice, and earthy notes coming into play and then retreating. Great mouthfeel and persistence. Excellent aftertaste. Unmistakably a Russian River wine. Bravol! It should have at least 4 more years of great drinking for those who have some in their cellar.
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3/30/2021 - gew71walsh wrote: 92 Points
Some cherries and other red fruits on the palate, not much on nose. This drinks alone or with food, in this case cheese and pate appetizers before the main meal. A nice finish.
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3/23/2021 - KenK wrote: 91 Points
Nice primary flavors in a deep rich creamy red fruited style. Far from a simple floozy, but unfortunately does seem to lack serious complexity.
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1/28/2021 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sour black cherry fruit with notes of baking spice and raspberry on the finish. Needs at least 30 minutes to open to a sweet cherry nose.
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12/29/2020 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Softer, rounder than the 2015. Koplen, more accessible, still restrained fruit, cola flavors, short
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12/24/2020 - CADomer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious and perfumed with juicy red fruit. This was a rocking good bottle of KB and a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas Eve.
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12/12/2020 - tshepard wrote: 94 Points
Great wine
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11/26/2020 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hour decant. Wonderful Thanksgiving wine. Structured enough to drink on its own but not overpowering. Drink now.
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11/26/2020 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine with the Thanksgiving meal. Everything a CA pinot should be.
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10/15/2020 - DrLes Likes this wine: 96 Points
A classic Pinot from the Russian River area, and a perfect example of it. My only regret is that it’s my last 2015.
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10/9/2020 - Winedog1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle of KB. The end of an era.
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9/4/2020 - yasha Likes this wine: 95 Points
I wish I did buy more before they got sold. its very good.
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5/29/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful nose with a bouquet of red fruit and deep full raspberry. Light heavyweight body with beautiful and elegant notes of red fruit. Lovely 20-30 second finish with a buttery end. Terrific wine with unusual elegance for a California Pinot. Better than many other Kosta Brownes I've had. Standout.
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5/17/2020 - oenophilemoose wrote: 89 Points
Decanted and consumed with dinner. Unremarkable and over-hyped.
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2/16/2020 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 94 Points
getting better with a little age...actually impressed by the ability of these grapes to hold on in their fullness until now (still have another bottle - another year). The aroma is of red fruit (think boysenberry)with light pine; flavors of red fruit and slight alcohol. Long lasting legs on the glass match the long finish on the wine. Absolutely drinking perfect now, but can't wait to find the PEAK on this wine. If you only have one bottle - I would drink this year or next - like they say "everyone has an opinion".
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1/31/2020 - yaCellar Likes this wine: 98 Points
More savory elements, minerality, and finesse than I’d expect for KB, esp at this young stage. Med- acid but otherwise a very good-friendly KB.
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1/8/2020 - Lederhosen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wowza!
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12/24/2019 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Paired with Turkey for Xmas eve. So good with food. Mid-weight, very cherry, amazing nose. Drink now.
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12/4/2019 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Floral with depth and complexity, slightly more than mid-weigh, entertaining and interesting. Alas, the last bottle from this vintage.
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11/28/2019 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely and interesting effort from Kosta Browne. The nose on this was floral and aromatic with lavender and other enticing aromas. This definitely offered some complexity of flavor and diversity of taste. Both dark and red fruit intermingled and I swear I picked up a bit of caramel notes in the glass. Some blue fruit also emerged. Very smooth on the palate and nice length on the finish. It was truly drinking beautifully and kept my interest from beginning to end.
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10/31/2019 - beach325 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Exceptional wine. Ready to start drinking over the next couple years.
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10/26/2019 - ELH wrote: 94 Points
Needed some time to open up. Substantial, mid to heavy weight. Definitely not in the gossamer camp of Pinot Noir. Cherries, plums, raspberries.
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9/2/2019 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Solid but I like other kosta pinots more.
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3/30/2019 - garambler Likes this wine: 93 Points
I opened this when our neighbors came over for cards on 3/30/19. It had a deep, rich and ripe nose of barnyard, smoke, black cherry, raspberry and baking spice aromas. The palate was rich, ripe and dry with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, cranberry and spice. 92+
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3/10/2019 - cmmatthews Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best around...much bigger than your typical Pinot but not in a way that feels unnatural. Needs some air time. Wish I was more sober by the end of this bottle.
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12/8/2018 - Lino99 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Loved this wine!
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11/21/2018 - beau11 wrote: 94 Points
Strong showing. Much tighter initially than most kosta’s. More structured but began to open up after 3 hours in bottle. Give this 2-3 years before opening the next one.
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6/24/2018 - Cali Fan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Vibrant, fruity. Definitely better a year after my first bottle.
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