TN: 2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

RichSteinberg · January 22, 2011, 2:12am

2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/21/2011)
Hot, disjointed cherry coke. It was decanted for over an hour and still wouldn’t budge. So not my style. One list I can drop now. My palate for pinots has shifted from these huge alcohol fruit bombs to more restrained wines. (84 pts.)

loren.grossman · January 22, 2011, 6:12pm

+1

I’m feeling you on this. So many domestic pinots have developed this profile. I pretty much have sworn off domestic pinot all together.

J_Singleton · January 22, 2011, 6:39pm

That’s quite a shame to generalize so much. I get what you two are saying, but there are plenty of wineries producing elegant, almost feminine wines that are still packed with flavor. Try WesMar. I tried them for the first time with the '07 vintage and I’m hooked. You’ll also notice how alcohol levels have come down since the early days of KB. The fruit bomb era in pinot is over.

Having seen this thread, I’m going to open an '06 Kosta Browne RRV tonight to see how much my palate has changed in favor of lighter Pinot.

Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e · January 22, 2011, 6:40pm

In my experience very few try to duplicate the disappointing 06 vintage of KB.

Tyler_Rico · January 22, 2011, 6:54pm

and people keep saying KB’s wines age nicely

maybe if you hold onto it a bit longer it will turn back [barf.gif]

Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e · January 22, 2011, 6:56pm

2005s have aged gracefully.

loren.grossman · January 22, 2011, 7:20pm

Glenn,

It is silly to suggest this is a style that applies only to the 2006s. The 07s are very similar in style. Perhaps the vintage may be better, but the wines are stylistically not very different. Same can be said for the 2005s. Btw, if you want to buy my 07s (and 06 svds) at cost, just PM me. Same applies to 07/08 Rivers Marie and Sojourn. And Aubert (chards too). Let me know.

As to generalities…I am not making any blanket statements. I simply said that there are many winemakers that adhere to that style in cali. And rather than search for what to me has become the exception, I have simply shifted to focusing on other growing areas.

J_Singleton · January 22, 2011, 11:15pm

So just opened the 06 RRV. Double decant through a Vinturi. All I can say at the moment is “hmm”. This stuff is candied, thick, and I’m not sure I’d immediate recognize it as Pinot. Hot, short finish, and just fairly unpleasant at the moment. Could be a $12 Aussie Shiraz for all I know. Hopefully time will tell me something different.

Mike_Maguire · January 22, 2011, 11:30pm

I too got sucked into the KB frenzy, I was lucky that their inflated shipping costs and arrogance made them an easy pass.

J_Singleton · January 22, 2011, 11:35pm

I enjoyed the 07 Sonoma Coast very much. But this 06, woof! Must have been my first allocation. Haha

RichSteinberg · January 23, 2011, 12:11am

For me, it almost had a medicinal quality.

K_R_Baker · January 23, 2011, 12:15am

You’ll also notice how alcohol levels have come down since the early days of KB. The fruit bomb era in pinot is over.

i wish the was the case, but a recent bottle of 2008 kosta browne keefer pinot would say otherwise. overripe and over boozed.

K_R_Baker · January 23, 2011, 12:18am

i have yet to taste a rivers marie that was anywhere near the style of kosta browne. i’ll happily take any summa old vines and chard that you would like to unload

J_Singleton · January 23, 2011, 1:15am

Kevin… Say it ain’t so!!! Hmmmm, guess I might be done with KB until we are seeing 13% alcohol levels from the '09s.

J_Singleton · January 23, 2011, 1:20am

Count me in for some RM and Sojourn as well. I don’t find either to be like the KBs.

Tyler_Rico · January 23, 2011, 2:38am

fruit will dissipate but the booze will always stay

Even though I despise KB I think most KB’s need to be drunk sooner rather than later

Tom_Lee · January 23, 2011, 4:50am

I hear what you are saying Loren. That being said there ARE exceptions. Rochioli and Dehlinger come to mind for sure. If you have tried these I would be curious as to your opinion.

Cheers, Tom

Tom_Lee · January 23, 2011, 5:20am

Arrogance? Really? Dan Kosta and Michael Browne are first class all the way IMO.

Tom

Paul_H_Galli · January 23, 2011, 1:31pm

Have to agree with this…
Good guys…

TTT

loren.grossman · January 23, 2011, 1:50pm

Tom Lee:

loren.grossman:

Glenn,

It is silly to suggest this is a style that applies only to the 2006s. The 07s are very similar in style. Perhaps the vintage may be better, but the wines are stylistically not very different. Same can be said for the 2005s. Btw, if you want to buy my 07s (and 06 svds) at cost, just PM me. Same applies to 07/08 Rivers Marie and Sojourn. And Aubert (chards too). Let me know.

As to generalities…I am not making any blanket statements. I simply said that there are many winemakers that adhere to that style in cali. And rather than search for what to me has become the exception, I have simply shifted to focusing on other growing areas.

I hear what you are saying Loren. That being said there ARE exceptions. Rochioli and Dehlinger come to mind for sure. If you have tried these I would be curious as to your opinion.

Cheers, Tom

I am a Rochioli and Delingher fan, for the most part. And Phillips Hill, Kalin, Calera, Ceritas and a number of others. I am still drinking through early 90s Williams Selyem. But on the whole the current trend is disappointing. And the allure of even a well made, $25 bourgogne has shifted my focus. Not to mention a few recent Roumier Rouchottes Chambertins and Dujac CdlRs, which didn’t suck