Tn - 2003 Kosta Browne RRV - Two Faced

2003 Kosta Browne PN RRV - Popped and poured, tasted over 2 and a half hours. Ruby red, nose was quite bland and industrial, but it settled down with some strawberry, some grass / wood-like elements and some interesting red berries. But within 60 minutes it drifted back to a less interesting taste, and more of a mess: bitter, feel of chemicals ,not very organic. Well ,30 minutes later back to showing more fruit, nice secondary flavors, adding some cherry and pine(?) A “two-faced” bottle.

So it was an interesting evening, half pleasure, half contempt. (Food was good throughout at least.) I felt like this bottle of wine was fighting for its soul…

I have some more bottles of this wine. I think I may try them all before the new year.

I have had several bottles of this wine over the years.
From my POV, this is this best Pinot KB has ever produced…

Tonight’s profile was not what I have enjoyed in the past, (though there were some nice moments.) Paul, I have five more of these. I hope for a better result next time. Come and visit Atlanta and we can try it again! Best, John

The 03’s were becoming messes over a year ago. Can’t imagine where they are today.

Paul - once again you are off your rocker. Definitely not the best that KB made.

Interesting. I can think of several '05s and '07s that, to me, are significantly better wines. But that’s cool. I am planning a mini KB RRV vertical this summer so I look forward to trying the '03 in context with the other KB RRV wines. Out of curiosity, have you had a chance to taste the '07 4-Barrel? A seamless beauty. For me, that wine is the best KB I have ever tasted and that was shortly after bottling.

John, I’ve not had the 07 4B since you and I last tasted it, but the 07 Kanzler we had last weekend was stunning…the best bottle of KB I’ve had to date!

The 03 Kanzler we had last Sunday was a close second. So much for the 03’s being a mess.

Chris

Personally, I would drink the 2003s now and move on (which i have since done, now finishing up my 2004s). Paul, you have a passioned opinion about pinot and you know what you like but I will go with Tony and express that there are IMO better KB pinots made since 2003, namely the 2005 Koplen. I also tried the 2007 4 Barrel last month and I had to pry it out of Rob Winn’s hands to get my second glass. neener That is going to be one helluva wine, for sure. In fact, if you look at my avatar, there is the proof.

Frank - I’ve followed your model. My 03s are gone, I’ve only got 04 4-Barrels left, and I’m looking forward to starting into the 05s.
Maybe I’ll go through the 06s first, as the reviews I’ve seen have been less impressive than those of the 05s and 07s.

In spite of yet another price hike, I’ll be buying some of the 07 SVDs.
Having tasted numerous barrel samples last year, they may be the best KBs yet.

It looks like I need to have a 2003 KB party and give them a proper send-off.

The only 03 that is a “mess” is the 03 Koplen. But that is a wine that seemed to me to fall apart early. The young fruit just didn’t hold up. ANd I consumed a lot of bottles of that wine.

Otherwise, a 4 Barrel 03 I had last fall was terrific. One I had this Spring while not as good was definitely not falling apart.