Kosta Browne began as a dream shared by Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. In the summer of 1997, while working at John Ash & Co. restaurant in Santa Rosa, California, Dan and Michael decided to pool their tips and venture into winemaking. Twenty years later, Kosta Browne is one of the most sought after Pinot Noirs in all of California. At present time they produce three appellation Pinot Noirs, eight single vineyard Pinot Noirs and a Chardonnay.
The fruit for the 2011 Santa Lucia Highlands was sourced from Garys’, Pisoni, Rosella’s, Sierra Mar and Soberanes Vineyards.
Light crimson in color. 14.5% AB. Pretty nose of red fruits, baking spice and forest floor. Medium body with medium to strong acidity. Light and more earthy than the other Kosta Browne appellation wines. Cherries, cranberries, spice and sarsaparilla on the palate. The finish is long and the earthy tones linger. Slightly less impressive in this vintage than the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 91 points.
The 2015 version was recently released for $68. As I mentioned in the Fab 5 of Mailing Lists, Kosta Browne is one of hardest lists to crack. Maybe so, but you’ve got nothing to lose by putting your name on the waiting list. Good luck!
Kosta Browne fared well in last year’s version of The 2016 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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