Light cherry raspberry flavors typical of a Sonoma Coast Pinot. Soft integrated tannin structure and enough acidity to enhance the Thanksgiving dinner. Nice spice (white pepper) notes on a balanced medium finish.
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Really like these KB single vineyard Pinots. This Gap’s Crown is subtle, with great red fruits. Medium on the mid palate, and lingers for a short while. This paired well with a pork chop dish.
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Great fruit character with the taste of raspberry, strawberry, and a little hint of cherry cola. All wrapped in a very well balanced package with a medium plus finish.
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I have had KB wines since 2014. Several Gap's Crown. This is different, and not in a bad way. Less sweetness. Needs more air on opening then I normally would do. Decant maybe for an hour or two. More subtle and dare I say Burgundian than "normal" KB's. If you are one of those who complain about KB being fruit bombs, this one is for you. Assuming this was not an atypical bottle.
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Such a wonderful wine. Gap’s Crown is a great vineyard and Kosta turns out a fantastic wine from the vineyard! Gave it a 30 minute decant. Very light and smooth with bright red fruit. Great balance between fruit and acid. Lovely light finish that doesn’t linger too long. Wine is aging nicely and still has plenty of life. Will try and wait at least 6-9 months before enjoying another bottle of this wine as the inventory is down to the final 3 bottles.
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Not balanced and overall an unimpressive wine for the price, IMO Decanted this bottle for 3+ hours and no difference . Acidic and slightly bitter. All 5 bottles had similar issues.
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Really closed nose upon opening. Some strawberry and star anise. Black cherry and strawberry on the front palate. A very slight smokiness along with some oak on the back palate still pretty closed. After a few sips it’s starting to open, still lots of strawberry black cherry and a niece star anise. Also pretty woody/oak on the mid and back palate at this point after about an hour. After five days under private preserve and in the cellar lot more cinnamon, rich and brown earthy spices on the nose. Lots of fruitcake on the palette now dark cherries, Elderberry mulberry and some the oak has really mellowed out the rich subtle fruits of the fruit cake are starting to come out. I’m going to knock this up to a 91. Patience with this in the cellar until 2025-2028 may actually be a better idea. Even though this was a very challenging vintage and with the fires. I don’t detect any smoke taint from this wine.
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I have one more left and will let that sit for a few years. It seems out of balance and the acidity is a bit strong right now. Good aroma and taste profile but the other aspects of the wine lower the enjoyment of drinking it.
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Opened for about 10 minutes prior to drinking. Heavier fruit with tastes of cherry and strawberry but isn’t like drinking jam. Solid spice note that seems to mellow some as time goes by. Wine has some acid and is a little heavier than some, but they are balanced with each other and goes well with the long finish that the wine has. Solid offering from Gaps’s Crown vineyard with a special touch made possible by Kosta! If you see it, buy it!
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No decant only time in the glass. Wonderful strawberry, sour raspberries, rhubarb and a mineral component making everting work really well together. 91-92
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Drinking great after a short decant 1/2 hr . Nose was mix red and blue fruit . Structured well enough to go with a fillet medium rare and charred outside .
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Gave it a 30 minute decant and it was oh so good! Great hints of Cherry with a little bit of acid without a lot of tannins to get in the way of the fruit. Not overly “jammy” but it had great finish that lingered just long enough for the follow up sip! Drinking very well right now and glad a have a number of bottles of this vintage to enjoy in the future! If you can get, go for it!
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Upon popping the cork and pouring into the decanter,, the initial aromas were intoxicating. The wine was decanted for 2 hours (intended for 60-90 minutes but got tied up). 1st glass poured from decanter then remaining wine poured back into the bottle. It was drank over an additional 3 hours and the notes stayed consistent throughout the 3 hours.
The aromas were of cherries jubilee and spices. The flavors were of red and dark cherries, spices and a touch of minerality. There were some secondary flavors that were present on the backend. There was medium acidity and minimal but fine tannins.
This was a good but not great showing from KB. It's not a great QPR but it's still an enjoyable wine. I agree with several reviews prior to mine that this is a solid 93 points. I was hopeful it was going to be a point or 2 higher but on this night it fell short of the next level. May be another year or 2 can get it there but I'm not sure there is enough complexity to significantly rate this bottle much higher in the future.
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A Kosta Browne gem. Sweet, bright cherry fruit with nice acidity. Secondary earth flavors emerge and after a hour decant the finish has a subtle spice that is smoothly integrated into the fruit. Really good.
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Intoxicating aroma of bing cherry, the palate is not quite as deep but it is well-composed with good acid as well. Doesn’t levitate like some of the other offerings, but is a solid representation of a very good PN. 93+
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I know my recent notes have been a bit critical of Kosta Browne and the price versus quality continuum. I want to put that aside and just proclaim this is a delicious and delectable wine. Fresh, lively and juicy with that incredible Gap’s Crown fruit that features nice acidity and wonderful weight. Red and dark fruit intermingle within this winner of a bottle. A beautiful single vineyard offering that clearly demonstrates pedigree and craftsmanship. I am not commenting on price/value, other than to say that you are a very lucky wine consumer if you have one of these in your cellar.
Consumed from PnP and over 4-5 hours; nose is a bit of spice and cherry, some citrus follows on the palate, with a bit of plum and a moderate finish. This is a good wine, but not a great wine. Given the pedigree I’d like just a bit more from it.
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Spicy and warm on the tongue. Yes, floral nose and long finish. For me, a bit too heavy of a pinot, however sharing a seafood dish and a short rib dish, it did go well with both.
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Tea, wet rocks, some smoke and red fruits on the nose. Incredibly well balanced on the palate. Refined tannins, just enough acidity to go with food. Long, gentle finish. Showing very well right now.
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Tank sample from Gaps Crown vineyard but is in large oak. Noticeably rounder, rich, more balanced but still obviously at a very young age. It was very interesting to taste the comparison to the concrete tank sample. Fantastic educational tour.
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Tank sample that was done in concrete. Elegant, crisp, clean, raspberry with a tart finish. Will likely be blended into the Sonoma Coast and Gaps Crown to add its mineral and acidic components. Lean but lovely by itself
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2/10/2024 - SMZ wrote: 94 Points
In a word……phenominal
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12/25/2023 - stevenp22 wrote: 93 Points
Perfect. Well balanced. Ver enjoyable
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11/23/2023 - swoop71 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light cherry raspberry flavors typical of a Sonoma Coast Pinot. Soft integrated tannin structure and enough acidity to enhance the Thanksgiving dinner. Nice spice (white pepper) notes on a balanced medium finish.
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8/31/2023 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Syrah-like, Rich, delicious blackberry fruit, excellent structure, ample finish
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6/24/2023 - RenoGene Likes this wine: 95 Points
Always excellent. Great without food. Good fruit and balanced Pinot.
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6/16/2023 - trenko wrote: 95 Points
50th
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2/10/2023 - gew71walsh wrote: 92 Points
Really like these KB single vineyard Pinots. This Gap’s Crown is subtle, with great red fruits. Medium on the mid palate, and lingers for a short while. This paired well with a pork chop dish.
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1/21/2023 - Harbthewineguy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great fruit character with the taste of raspberry, strawberry, and a little hint of cherry cola. All wrapped in a very well balanced package with a medium plus finish.
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9/8/2022 - jmrife Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have had KB wines since 2014. Several Gap's Crown. This is different, and not in a bad way. Less sweetness. Needs more air on opening then I normally would do. Decant maybe for an hour or two. More subtle and dare I say Burgundian than "normal" KB's. If you are one of those who complain about KB being fruit bombs, this one is for you. Assuming this was not an atypical bottle.
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5/23/2022 - wthad4 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Such a wonderful wine. Gap’s Crown is a great vineyard and Kosta turns out a fantastic wine from the vineyard! Gave it a 30 minute decant. Very light and smooth with bright red fruit. Great balance between fruit and acid. Lovely light finish that doesn’t linger too long. Wine is aging nicely and still has plenty of life. Will try and wait at least 6-9 months before enjoying another bottle of this wine as the inventory is down to the final 3 bottles.
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3/14/2022 - DWStyle wrote: 88 Points
Not balanced and overall an unimpressive wine for the price, IMO Decanted this bottle for 3+ hours and no difference . Acidic and slightly bitter. All 5 bottles had similar issues.
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3/4/2022 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Rich, delicious soft, round, dark strawberry fruit with cola flavors, excellent structure, ample finish, wine a little tight after 2nd day of opening
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2/9/2022 - redhead6971 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really closed nose upon opening. Some strawberry and star anise. Black cherry and strawberry on the front palate. A very slight smokiness along with some oak on the back palate still pretty closed. After a few sips it’s starting to open, still lots of strawberry black cherry and a niece star anise. Also pretty woody/oak on the mid and back palate at this point after about an hour. After five days under private preserve and in the cellar lot more cinnamon, rich and brown earthy spices on the nose. Lots of fruitcake on the palette now dark cherries, Elderberry mulberry and some the oak has really mellowed out the rich subtle fruits of the fruit cake are starting to come out. I’m going to knock this up to a 91. Patience with this in the cellar until 2025-2028 may actually be a better idea. Even though this was a very challenging vintage and with the fires. I don’t detect any smoke taint from this wine.
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1/15/2022 - zylmanj wrote: 88 Points
I have one more left and will let that sit for a few years. It seems out of balance and the acidity is a bit strong right now. Good aroma and taste profile but the other aspects of the wine lower the enjoyment of drinking it.
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12/19/2021 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
early in it's drinking window
deep earthy dark fruit with a strong backbone
better in a year or two but hard to keep hands off now
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12/12/2021 - wthad4 wrote: 95 Points
Opened for about 10 minutes prior to drinking. Heavier fruit with tastes of cherry and strawberry but isn’t like drinking jam. Solid spice note that seems to mellow some as time goes by. Wine has some acid and is a little heavier than some, but they are balanced with each other and goes well with the long finish that the wine has. Solid offering from Gaps’s Crown vineyard with a special touch made possible by Kosta! If you see it, buy it!
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11/27/2021 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 92 Points
No decant only time in the glass. Wonderful strawberry, sour raspberries, rhubarb and a mineral component making everting work really well together. 91-92
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11/20/2021 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quick 30 min double decant which is all it needed. Fruit leans cherry heavy without being jammy. Drink now or hold.
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9/3/2021 - jpsm4444 wrote:
Drinking great after a short decant 1/2 hr . Nose was mix red and blue fruit . Structured well enough to go with a fillet medium rare and charred outside .
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7/31/2021 - wendyinwlv wrote: 87 Points
Unfortunately, I don't think I am a big fan of KB. A bit too astringent for me; nice nose though!
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7/25/2021 - wthad4 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gave it a 30 minute decant and it was oh so good! Great hints of Cherry with a little bit of acid without a lot of tannins to get in the way of the fruit. Not overly “jammy” but it had great finish that lingered just long enough for the follow up sip! Drinking very well right now and glad a have a number of bottles of this vintage to enjoy in the future! If you can get, go for it!
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4/7/2021 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Fresh, lively, fruity, and juicy.
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3/26/2021 - JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Upon popping the cork and pouring into the decanter,, the initial aromas were intoxicating. The wine was decanted for 2 hours (intended for 60-90 minutes but got tied up). 1st glass poured from decanter then remaining wine poured back into the bottle. It was drank over an additional 3 hours and the notes stayed consistent throughout the 3 hours.
The aromas were of cherries jubilee and spices. The flavors were of red and dark cherries, spices and a touch of minerality. There were some secondary flavors that were present on the backend. There was medium acidity and minimal but fine tannins.
This was a good but not great showing from KB. It's not a great QPR but it's still an enjoyable wine. I agree with several reviews prior to mine that this is a solid 93 points. I was hopeful it was going to be a point or 2 higher but on this night it fell short of the next level. May be another year or 2 can get it there but I'm not sure there is enough complexity to significantly rate this bottle much higher in the future.
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2/25/2021 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 95 Points
A Kosta Browne gem. Sweet, bright cherry fruit with nice acidity. Secondary earth flavors emerge and after a hour decant the finish has a subtle spice that is smoothly integrated into the fruit. Really good.
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11/25/2020 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved the wine. I read the notes of CT member AIR GUITAR AND PINOT NOIR and found those notes so dead on that I cannot improve upon them.
Modern fruit forward and jam laden .... and with that said don't sell this short of being a great wine. Ageable and appreciable.
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11/9/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Intoxicating aroma of bing cherry, the palate is not quite as deep but it is well-composed with good acid as well. Doesn’t levitate like some of the other offerings, but is a solid representation of a very good PN. 93+
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10/23/2020 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 93 Points
I know my recent notes have been a bit critical of Kosta Browne and the price versus quality continuum. I want to put that aside and just proclaim this is a delicious and delectable wine. Fresh, lively and juicy with that incredible Gap’s Crown fruit that features nice acidity and wonderful weight. Red and dark fruit intermingle within this winner of a bottle. A beautiful single vineyard offering that clearly demonstrates pedigree and craftsmanship. I am not commenting on price/value, other than to say that you are a very lucky wine consumer if you have one of these in your cellar.
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10/13/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consumed from PnP and over 4-5 hours; nose is a bit of spice and cherry, some citrus follows on the palate, with a bit of plum and a moderate finish. This is a good wine, but not a great wine. Given the pedigree I’d like just a bit more from it.
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9/12/2020 - wendyinwlv wrote: 92 Points
Spicy and warm on the tongue. Yes, floral nose and long finish. For me, a bit too heavy of a pinot, however sharing a seafood dish and a short rib dish, it did go well with both.
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8/30/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very floral and beautiful on the palate and nose. Linear on the palate. Long finish .
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7/6/2020 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
in a good spot and early in it's drinking window
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6/19/2020 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 93 Points
Following a less extracted profile this exudes smooth notes of cherry on the nose, with a palate of strawberry and cherry, finishing clean.
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5/24/2020 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Really good. 93-95 range.
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3/28/2020 - Artbreadman wrote: 94 Points
Delightful. Well balanced, light but substantial, red fruit, would be even better with more bouquet. Still excellent right now.
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3/21/2020 - roaddogtrading wrote:
Day 7 of lockdown. Have deliveries coming next week, so drank another 1.5L bottle. Great wine.
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3/3/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tea, wet rocks, some smoke and red fruits on the nose. Incredibly well balanced on the palate. Refined tannins, just enough acidity to go with food. Long, gentle finish. Showing very well right now.
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2/15/2020 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful, bright bright cherry and strawberry. Velvet smooth, not tannic. Just brilliant now.
Cool to be able to try this out of barrel and bottle
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5/10/2018 - andrewdodd86 wrote:
@ Kosta Browne - Barrel sample from oak - rounded and richer than the concrete, but like the fruit profile out of concrete a touch better
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5/10/2018 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine:
@ Kosta Browne - Barrel sample out of concrete - more earth more depth, great vibrant fruit. Loved this. Tart cherry, touch sour
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5/10/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tank sample from Gaps Crown vineyard but is in large oak. Noticeably rounder, rich, more balanced but still obviously at a very young age. It was very interesting to taste the comparison to the concrete tank sample. Fantastic educational tour.
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5/10/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tank sample that was done in concrete. Elegant, crisp, clean, raspberry with a tart finish. Will likely be blended into the Sonoma Coast and Gaps Crown to add its mineral and acidic components. Lean but lovely by itself
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