2015 & 2016 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Tasting Lot

There are 5,500 cases of the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley and it’s a deeply colored, ripe, sexy, beast of an appellation wine that’s as good, or better, then several of the single vineyards. Black raspberries, cassis, roasted herbs, violets, and loads of toasted spice give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured 2015 that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It's already drinking beautifully but should keep nicely on its balance and purity.

The bright fruit and hints of citrus come through clearly in this wine on the nose. Medium to full body, linear fine tannins and a fresh citrusy backbone of acidity. Lively.

From a site that was decimated with regards to yields, the 2015 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard comes from a very diverse site that has varying soil types and elevations. At the top, it's primarily iron, volcanic soils, with some clay, but as you move down the vineyard you find more chert (seabed soils) and clay/loam. Kosta Browne owns a full 36 acres of the site, with lots of varying clones, and this is one of the larger production cuvee. The 2015 Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard is smoking good and just loaded with notions darker fruits, caramelized blackberries, smoked earth, and pepper. Big, rich and textured on the palate, with a smoking good texture, this is one of the larger scaled, richer wines in the lineup.

Blueberry, blackberry, lavender ,and ripe strawberry. Stunning aromas. Full body, with super fine tannins that are compressed and extremely long. It goes on for minutes.

One of the gems in this stacked lineup, the 2015 Pinot Noir Giusti Ranch is about as big, rich, and concentrated as they come in 2015, which generally yielded more elegant wines. Its deeper ruby/plum color is followed by a powerful, full-flavored 2015 that has beautiful notes of cassis, toasted spice, caramelized cherries and candied violets. Gorgeously rich and textured, with a voluptuous texture, no hard edges and a great finish, it will keep for a decade or more.

Extremely opulent and vivid on the nose with blackberry, blueberry and flower. Full body, velvety tannins and wonderful energy. Vivid and powerful. Real Russian River Pinot with a modern clarity.

While it’s easy to think of the appellation blends as being the entry-level cuvées, with the quality always being higher with the single vineyard release, don’t make that mistake. The appellation blends can often surpass single vineyard releases and, in my experience, can age just as gracefully. The 2016 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a beautiful wine well worth your time and money. Offering classic cherry and framboise fruit, complex spice, forest floor, and rose garden nuances, medium body, and a seamless, savory personality, it’s going to keep for 8-9 years.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills was aged nine months in 47% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby, it opens with bright cranberry sauce, pomegranate liqueur, red and black cherries, cured meats and peppercorn with potpourri and earthy touches. It's light to medium-bodied with bright, fresh, crunchy fruits accented by spices and earthy notions. It has fine, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. (EB)