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2017 Kosta Browne Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

Removed from a subterranean, temperature and humidity controlled residential cellar; Purchased at retail

Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

94The Wine Advocate

...black tea leaves, licorice, wild blackberries, dried lilac and tree bark with hints of blood orange, potpourri, saline and crushed red berry fruit. It’s medium-bodied and ultra silky with wonderful layering of pure fruits, amaro and spices, with a gentle, grainy frame and fantastic juicy freshness, finishing long and elegant. How lovely!

94Wine Enthusiast

Soft blue fruit, orange tea and rhubarb make for an exotic, tangy and beguiling experience on the palate of this explosive, focused and freshly crisp wine... Soft and seductive in texture, it has complexity around rich layers of balanced spice and earthiness.

93James Suckling

A parcel on long-term lease. Aromas of violets and blue fruit, as well as roses and rich, deep cherries and plums...very ripe aromas...soft palate and a round, smooth feel that holds well on the finish.

92Wine Spectator

Lively and juicy, featuring cherry tart, dried fig and plum compote flavors that are fresh and offer a touch of ripeness. The plush, spicy finish lingers, with minerally notes.

PRODUCER

Kosta Browne

Kosta Browne Winery, in Sebastopol, was founded in 1997 when Dan Kosta and Michael Browne pooled their money to buy a half ton of Pinot Noir grapes and a used grape crusher. The men had been colleagues at a Santa Rosa restaurant, but dreamt of making their own wine. In 2001 they teamed up with Chris Costello, who provided the winemaking pair with a business plan and operational support. Today the three partners still run Kosta Browne, which does not have its own vineyards but sources grapes from the Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands. Kosta Browne makes only Pinot Noir, and has in little more than a decade developed a strong following for its wines, which are generally single vineyard bottlings. Most Kosta Browne wines are sold through their mailing list.

REGION

United States, California, Sonoma, Sonoma Coast

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

TYPE

Red Wine, Pinot Noir

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.