Dinner with Jim Mack & Michael Browne

La Madia, Chicago
Tasted Tuesday, May 12, 2009 by cobbpa with 667 views

Introduction

Having been part of the Syrah Smackdown fun, Jim Mack invited us all to have dinner with himself & Michael Browne. I'm no idiot, so I went.

Flight 1 - Initial Jemrose Bottles (3 Notes)

The Rose & Late Harvest were experimental / personal projects of Jim & Michael's, so they were especially interesting to try, but the Viognier was the standout for me.

  • 2007 Jemrose Grenache Rosé Foggy Knoll 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Nose is full of bright red fruits (all kinds--berries, cherries, etc) with some great floral undertones woven in. Tastes richly of those red fruits with a hint of white fruit rind & some minerality underneath. I can feel the alcohol's warmth, but it doesn't detract from the great tastes & texture. Good length on the finish.

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  • 2007 Jemrose Viognier Egret Pond 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    This nose rocks. Melons, melon rind, a little wildflower hint, white fruits (pear esp.), all wrapped in a great perfuminess. So good. Has a little of the typical oiliness, but overal just a very rich feel. Acid throughout to balance, and the white-fruit based finish has a little spice to add interest.

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  • 2008 Jemrose Late Harvest Viognier Egret Pond 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Lemon & orange marmalade on the nose, some dried citrus, and some almost fig-like hints (am I imagining this?). Reminds me of something between an Auslese & dessert muscat. Great tastes of grilled white tropical & citrus fruits. Nice sweetness throughout, pushing it a bit fat. Tasty tasty stuff though.

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Flight 2 - Kosta Browne 2007 SVD (7 Notes)

Being relatively new to wine, I've only had a handful of Pinots. I've had some good stuff, but some of these bottles showed me all that Cali Pinot can be. Extremely polished across the board. I'm sure everyone has their varying preferences based on style, but all of them are just gorgeous.

  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Great warm spices, dark cherries, a little Pom juice hint to the nose, some dark wood tones, rich raspberries. Tastes similarly, with great fruit, a focused core of spice & mineral-like structure underneath. Brings in deep red & black fruits as well, with great spice (incl black pepper) on the finish. 93-94

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Amber Ridge Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Deep red fruits, some black fruits, a hint of light wood & a maple-like tone buried in the nose. Mouthfeel is very silky with mixed baking spices, great strawberry & dark cherries that flow through a nice finish.

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Little blackberry & mint, but mostly all kinds of rich red fruits. A little blue fruit in there as well (to my nose at least). Very rich, elegant, and luscious. Great acidity based in cherry, strawberry, & tart raspberry / cranberry flavors. Long finish shows great fruit and light spice hints.

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Dark raspberry, great red & bleck cherries, some dried herbs, and a little bit of cranberry. Kind of has a dark streak to the red fruit. Palate is full of great fresh fruit flavors, that touch of dried herb, and again a little bit of dark jam. Good focus on the finish, but doesn't detract from the overall fruit-based profile.

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    I found some pepper, a hint of licorice, and a touch of mint on the nose, but mostly great mixed berries. Those first hints add good depth. Dark cherry & spices with a little other red fruit flavors included. Very silky, although still shows strong acid. Red fruits & white pepper fill in a long finish. 92-93 for me

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    A packed nose--some green strawberries, ripe red cherries, tinge of black licorice, all kinds of red berries, and great sipce / herb mixture (almost reminds me of a good BBQ sauce or rub). Palate is rich, dark, fresh, and ripe--just packed with great fruits plus interesting spices & acid to remind you it's not at all unbalanced--very well made & polished. Great length on the finish. Incredible wine with room to grow.

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  • 2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir 4 Barrel 93 Points

    USA, California

    Rich red fruits, dark & blue fruits as well on the nose along with herbs, eucalyptus-esque hint, raspberry syrup tinges (or strawberry Quick powder) and especially pure raspberries. Very extracted nose. Palate is rich, packed with mostly bright red fruits but darker cherries & jam as well. Warm spices throughout (like a spiced apple pie but red fruits instead of apples). Some dried herbs in there as well. Long, gorgeous finish has a good drying component to keep it in balance. If the underlying spice / herbal tones increase & expand over time this could be a stunningly complex wine.

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Flight 3 - Jemrose (5 Notes)

I think Jim brought some of almost everything he's made (he also brought the 07 Grenache, which I didn't write up but have had before...it's awesome ). I definitely preferred the 2007s to the 2006s, but nothing slouched here. It may be a little unjust to have your wine tasted after the Kosta flight, but what're ya gonna do?

  • 2006 Jemrose Gloria's Gem 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Dark berry, hint of mint & char on the nose. Great dark / rich fruit on the palate--blue & black fruits transition to bring a little mixture of black raspberry & blueberry jam on the finish. Good wood / spice nuances throughout as well, and a great feel with a nice finish. 89-90, but I'm a sucker for nice mouthfeel. 90 it is

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  • 2006 Jemrose Merlot Two Sisters 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Dark wood, rich plum, dark blueberry, blackberry, and a little loaminess to the nose. Some mint & wood on the palate covered in great dark fruit. Good acid & a hint of herbaceousness on the finish along with the great fruit.

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  • 2006 Jemrose Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Nose of great blue fruit, some mint leaf or basil, little bacon, and other dark fruits. Tasting brings great, rich fruit that is well balanced in its structure. Little meat there, but just a touch. Strong finish of good length with mixed pepper, lush fruit, bacon, and herbs across good tannins.

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  • 2007 Jemrose Gloria's Gem 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Nose of blue & black fruit pie filling, a little plum pudding, some toast & a hint of herbs. Palate is very rich--tastes like a mouthfull of dark fruit salad with a little smokiness, but overall very plush. Good acid and drying tannins sneak in during a fruit-based finish.

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  • 2007 Jemrose Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Red fruits, black fruits, blue fruits, mint, dark spices, touch of meat juice, and a kind of brambly fruit tinge. Fruit forward nose, but the nuances make it intriguing. My scribbles after tasting start with "dark dark silky sweet." That's exactly what this wine is--great dark black & blue fruits, smokey tones, nice wood & spice hints. Good tannins on a finish that feels warm, plush, and dark but stays focused over its good length.

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Closing

Could not ask for better quality throughout the night. Although most of these were just a few months out of barrel, they were all showing very well. So fortunate to have had this chance to spend some time with Jim, Michael (both great guys) and the rest of the group for the Smackdown. What's next to try & top this?

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