Drink now. It will not get better with time. Decanting did not help the wine evolve through the night. The nose was powerful with a distinct black cherry jam aroma with undertones of pine. In mouth, the wine was overly muscular lacking the acidity to compensate for the 14.7% alc. This bottle will finish you before you finish the bottle. I found it very tiring.
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Garnet color in the glass, a little dust looking. Nose of berries and cherries that flows straight through to the palate. Some floral notes on the nose with some added plum flavors on the palate. Medium acidity, fully resolved tannins, full bodied. Drink now.
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At first the wine was a heavy dark cherry, cola and spice, but the wine was just heavy and monolithic. After 15 minutes, the texture became lighter and more delicate. The wine however developed a soapy quality that wasn't all that pleasant. I used to like KB wines, but I think after about half dozen of them, my palate has moved on.
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honestly very surprised this one has come together so well and not become an acid drop given its age and style. simply delicious notes of cherry, spice and hallmark KB richness that has toned down just a little with age to achieve balance and finesses in a Pinot that is still full bore. a great "wow" wine. looking forward to walking through the 04-07 in the coming weeks to compare notes.
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My first time trying Kosta Browne and I was pleasantly surprised. It's not your typical big over the top Cali Pinot. Decanted 2 hours. While it has loads of upfront red fruits, it was just minerally and acidic enough to put it in balance. Tannins were well integrated. Terrific effort. Would place this (next to) last in a lineup. Would definitely buy again. Had it on NYE with W&S, drank with sausage stuffed mushrooms, and goat cheese stuffed dates w/ prosciutto.
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Dark cherry, spice, clove, cinnamon nose. Massive glyceral 'tate'. No actual taste. Just alcohol. Weird. As tasty as revolting. This isn't how wine should taste. This isn't a natural wine. It has a saccharine flavor.
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Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Followed over about 90 minutes thereafter. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Subdued nose of rose petals, white pepper and mixed berries. Flavors of mixed berries and cherries with a dash of red currants and a bit of bitters on the medium finish. Medium turning towards tart acidity, medium plus tannins, medium to full body. Drink over the short term. This is ready to go IMHO.
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My only bottle, so I don't know how it tasted in its youth, but I suspect this one has had its better days behind it. Much of the KB wow-factor on the nose is gone. The wine is a little unbalanced, even at cellar temps. There is the dreaded cough-syrup note starting to emerge. Finish is a little hot on the back of the palate and clumsy. Not complex and not eartly, just a little light in the fruit department. BTW, the 2003 RRV pinot was among my all time favorites, but I consumed those all some time ago. I was disappointed with the 2003 Kanzler in this showing.
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Decanted 2 hours. Very similar to my experience of a year ago. (Really) Great nose of powerful cherries, vanilla, and a piney, spicy underbrush expression, but some heat as well. Rich somewhat sweet fruit-based palate with some acidity, soft tannins, and a slight etoh component. Actually was a terrific companion to seared tuna over a lentil salad with mango. Not sure how long this will go, but my guess is that this wine has plenty of life ahead (although I likely will not be able to confirm as this was my last bottle).
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Opened and decanted about 3 1/2 hours before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries and some black raspberries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Just a little hot on the nose but not offensive. Drink over the shorter towards medium term with some air time first.
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In your face pinot. Fun to drink. No elegance to it. But powerful. Last bottle. Paid $45 at retail, but not worth much more to me. Some of the heat is very evident. Like paint thinner. Cola and a bit piney? Fruit is very dark. Ultra long finish, which makes me like it some. I liked the one I had over a year ago, but maybe my taste is changing. I'm on their list now, and it's good, but may not get more esp. they are becoming $$$.
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I have been holding onto this bottle for awhile, but a special occasion and the reviews convinced me to open it and it was awesome. It was a big wine yet well balance with some cherry, cola. It was a full mouth of wine without being overwhelming and hot. I loved it.
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After reading the recent glowing posting on this wine I thought it was time to open one of these. So glad I did. This wine as good as it was when it was when it was young is even better now. A monumental effort by Michael Browne. Definitely one of the best KB I've ever consumed and that's saying a lot. Should hold for at least another 3 maybe 5 years.
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It is a sad day, last bottle of the Kanzler's. This is seemless and drinking as well as it can. Baking spices, pine notes, earthy and red fruit. Fabulous.
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Balanced and complex with raspberry and spice aromas and flavors. Maybe a bit more candied than I prefer but not overwhelming. No hint of heat on the finish. Velvet mouthfeel as all tannins and acid are completely integrated. Good wine. This wine might be on a downslope - it was our last bottle but if I had any more I would drink them short term.
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This was the third bottle opened during the course of the evening and did not get the same attention as the previous bottles, however, this was quite yummy, easily drunk, lots of berry and some spice. It showed very well with no extra air time. It was poured as dinner was underway and each person commented that "this is a nice wine". We did not experience the alcoholic heat that other tasters have. This was served a little cooler than "room temp" (70F in Alaska in the winte) and poured for 5 people did not last all that long in the glass.
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Bright cherry fruit and spice on the palate. Nose was somewhat muted, even after 2 hours of decant time. Very good wine, but did not possess the WOW of the previous bottle. Unfortunately, this was my last bottle.
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Showed darker fruit that the last bottle - lots of black raspberry. Strong characteristics of cola and pine needle. Smooth and supple on the palate and then a spicy, zesty finish. As the wine warmed that zestiness changed to a pricky acidity with the alcohol became more apparent. Tannins are fully resolved. Drink now and at a cooler temperature.
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Decanted 2 hours and needed most of this as the aromatics at dinner were completely amazing and captivating, but tight and ungiving on opening. The nose was chock full of beautiful pine needles, cherries, underbrush, spice and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this was a bit thick and unctuous for me given the clean cut of the nose (one of the most pleasurable CA pinots aromatically I've had in awhile). I was hoping for a bit more acidity and some stones/minerals, but both were lacking. Still, it was very nice and paired great with veal chops and the 'thickness' on entry and midpalate translated into a wonderfully lengthy, layered aftertaste. I see no reason to hold my remaining bottle.
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the alcohol probably would have come off too hot on any lesser pinot noir, but this had so much concentrated flavor to give off what were really intense hot flavorful volatile esters. intense berry -- raspberry compote reduction a little bit like a great grenache, but so much more refined. Very rich savory body -> clean white bacon fat -> slanina. cayenne pepper with a little cocoa powder, touches of tar and glycerine, maui sweet onion and lard peeking out from behind the fruit. As bold as the fruit was, it maintained a very elegant and refined burgundian heritage. Just fell short of earthy character to make it to top of outstanding or extraordinary.
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Deep red in the glass with plenty of cherry, dark berries and other red fruits on the nose over a faint hint of oak. More sweet red and dark fruits in the mouth with a bit of spice and a long finish.
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Pinot tasting at Cuvee in Del Mar. Tasted amidst many wines. Too many! Showed well. Fruit, spice and a little heat. Let the other bottle mellow(?) for a year.
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San Diego Pinot-fest (Cuvee Restaurant - Del Mar, CA): Can we say Cinnamon Toast Crunch? This is what greets my senses when I bring the glass to my nose. While the previous wine (2004 Vision SC) was youthful and playful, this one is downright mischievous. Dark rich cherry, blueberry, and black raspberry on the palate, along with some baking spices, to create a nice interplay of sweetness and spice. With one sip, the former seems to dominate; with another, the latter. I never really know what I am going to get with this wine. The one constant, however, is the heat, which bothered me. So while I really enjoyed the game of tag on the tasebuds, ultimately, the heat started to wear me down.
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Served with fried green tomato sandwiches. A piece of Southern heaven! While I am generally a KB supporter, I did not get much out of this wine. It had an oaky velvety vanilla "yankee candle" mouthfeel. Some light fruit and oaky ? or varietal ? spice notes. Really just lathered oak to me.
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A big brawny pinot KB style. Very dark almost purple color. Loads of dark fruit and black cherry notes. A hint of spice. Surprisingly light on its feet with some lighter red fruit notes on the finish. Tannins are definitely still resolving here and the mouthfeel is a bit chalky. Not super food friendly but a very stylish and impressive wine.
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Loads of everything. Dark red color. Muted on the nose right now. Very tannic, huge structure, dark cherry, blackberry and underlying earthy dimension. Just a big wine. I love it.
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Really need to let this bad girl open for at least an hour...seemed overly tannic at first but continued to mellow and show hugely after that. Massive garrigue, sour cherry, dry leaves, hint of tobacco...I love this wine, the longer you stay with it, the more it keeps giving.
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The 2003 was my other WOTN. It had everything in the right place and was firing on all cylinders. Again, not overripe or overdone but at the larger end of the pinot spectrum. If you're going to open a KB, give this one an hour decant and then enjoy the ride.
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Decanted for an hour; began as a good but typical pinot with heavy cherry flavors, but over next hour or two became something special. Could use some age I guess.
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Brought to BlueZoo. Opened and decanted. 30 Minutes of air before first sip. After an hour this opened up and was magnificent. Bright fruit, roses and a bit of tea. Tremendous wine.
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NYC KB-fest (Ouest): A powerful wine on a lot different levels. Black fruit (blackberries, cherries) and spice dominate the nose. The fruit is redder in the mouth with a nice citrusy tang that bites down on some of that big fruit. Tannins are definitely in play here and despite 2+ hours of decanting it was still revealing depth (cocoa, cedar, allspice) through the end of the night. Clearly this needs time to integrate the oak better and to resolve some of the backbone, but this is a phenomenal wine with years ahead of it.
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Entirely too young, but filled with spice and dominating raspberry on the nose. Some rhubarb mixed in with cedar, spice, and sweet bing cherry underneath. Good length finish. Sleep baby... sleep.
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Tasted April 22, 2006 at LilacWine’s house in Fredericksburg, TX. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Balloon Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plum, black cherry and spice box. Flavors of black berries, red licorice and raspberries. Simply delicious. Can be drank now but I’m going to hold my next bottle until 2009 and see what happens. I’m betting some pretty serious stuff. At the $48.00 a bottle release price from the winery the value is bordering be excellent and outstanding.
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I was surprised to see this mailing-list bottle on the wine list at Mendocino in Georgetown, Washington, DC, so I convinced my table-mates to take the plunge (they've also got a SQN Shea Vinyard). This was a pop-and-pour situation -- no decanting. We were immediately knocked out by the wave of berry aromas swelling from the glass. Taking a whif was like dipping your face into a bowl of potpouri. So, powerful aromatics. On the palate, the same thick blue- and blackberry flavors predominated, and beneath them, ripe black cherry as well. Several other nuances hidden in there, too, but I couldn't identify them so much as sense them. It wasn't all fruit pie, either; worked into the mix were stout tannins and acids that lent a pleasant bite and leveled out the fruits, providing a nice long finish. Altogether a powerful, thick, ripe glass of pinot that held together and improved as it breathed. Drank well now, but I expect it would also benefit from a year or two more in the cellar. The restaurant was charging $115; given that a recent search on winesearcher (pro) returned prices upwards of $150, I thought it was a pretty good deal. (I think it went for about $50 on the mailing list, based on CellarTracker's valuation data.) I'll add that I've never had a pinot of this sort before, and I was a bit concerned intitally whether I could appreciate such a supercharged version of that varietal. "Exotic" certainly is an appropriate descriptor. I'm pleased to say, I've been made a convert. Wonder how long it takes to get through the waiting list?
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Very enjoyable -- like a Pinot on steroids, with nice acidity and plenty of tannins. Will age for a few years but was darn tasty now. (actually had this by accident...thought I was pulling a Sonoma Coast appellation bottle and noticed it was the Kanzler 1/2 way through after thinking "Wow, this is special!"...:-) )
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Day1: Decanted out half a bottle and left for a couple of hours. On the nose it was pure blueberry - tasting was the same - but this time with more than a hint of sweetness and an unmistakeable whiff of alchohol on the nose. Uh-oh - this was not what I had expected. I had a glass of this but it wasn't too pleasant - I tried a little with food but this only brought out the more negative aspects of the wine.Ugh. Poured the remainder of the decanter back in the bottle to await day 2 Day2: Ok - the nose was showing a little better today. There was a touch of cherry and cola as well as the blueberry. The taste also showed a bit more complexity and a little less sweetness. There was also a much better acid balance but still not enough for me. We had a couple of glasses before dinner but moved onto another Pinot during dinner (F. Magnien Clos de La Justice 2002) which went much better with food. Overall on Day 1 this was a C-/D+ - it was just not pleasant. On day 2 it may have reached a B- I'm not sure if this is just not my thing - but I'm glad I was only allowed to buy one bottle of this!
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Oh my. Perhaps you still remember all those subpar pinots that made you wonder why some revere the pinot noir grape. I remember my first great one---a 1976 Burgundy drunk in 1990. This 2003 Kosta Browne is a gem that I had the pleasure of sharing with two wine friends. This was their pinot noir epiphany, much fun to share. Big surprisingly sexy tanins, deep rich and dark cherried carmel, raspberry---the tastes and flavors kept coming. Years of evolving life to come. Was even more discernible 1 and then 2 hours after opening.
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12/1/2012 - Spaniard wrote: 84 Points
Drink now. It will not get better with time. Decanting did not help the wine evolve through the night. The nose was powerful with a distinct black cherry jam aroma with undertones of pine. In mouth, the wine was overly muscular lacking the acidity to compensate for the 14.7% alc. This bottle will finish you before you finish the bottle. I found it very tiring.
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9/17/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92-93+/-
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet color in the glass, a little dust looking. Nose of berries and cherries that flows straight through to the palate. Some floral notes on the nose with some added plum flavors on the palate. Medium acidity, fully resolved tannins, full bodied. Drink now.
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9/9/2011 - Jay A wrote: 88 Points
At first the wine was a heavy dark cherry, cola and spice, but the wine was just heavy and monolithic. After 15 minutes, the texture became lighter and more delicate. The wine however developed a soapy quality that wasn't all that pleasant. I used to like KB wines, but I think after about half dozen of them, my palate has moved on.
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8/21/2011 - theodore3 wrote: 89 Points
Seems a bit over the hill to me.
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10/1/2010 - spretzer wrote: 94 Points
this a beautiful wine. It has come together well. a great nose of cherries and spice with enough backbone to make it really work. Loved it.
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8/7/2010 - Erik R. wrote: 93 Points
also suprised that this came together nicely. spice with still great acidity. delicate.
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4/3/2010 - muredskin14 wrote: 96 Points
honestly very surprised this one has come together so well and not become an acid drop given its age and style. simply delicious notes of cherry, spice and hallmark KB richness that has toned down just a little with age to achieve balance and finesses in a Pinot that is still full bore. a great "wow" wine. looking forward to walking through the 04-07 in the coming weeks to compare notes.
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1/10/2010 - pjhr wrote: 96 Points
Simply delicious! Last bottle, wish I had more.
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12/31/2009 - Prego wrote: 93 Points
My first time trying Kosta Browne and I was pleasantly surprised. It's not your typical big over the top Cali Pinot. Decanted 2 hours. While it has loads of upfront red fruits, it was just minerally and acidic enough to put it in balance. Tannins were well integrated. Terrific effort. Would place this (next to) last in a lineup. Would definitely buy again. Had it on NYE with W&S, drank with sausage stuffed mushrooms, and goat cheese stuffed dates w/ prosciutto.
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12/6/2009 - mdstenner wrote: 50 Points
Dark cherry, spice, clove, cinnamon nose. Massive glyceral 'tate'. No actual taste. Just alcohol. Weird. As tasty as revolting. This isn't how wine should taste. This isn't a natural wine. It has a saccharine flavor.
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10/30/2009 - assaf wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful wine. Great balance and length. Just delicious!
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5/29/2009 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Ready to drink with a half hour decant.
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5/18/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91?,PURPLE91
Tasted May 18, 2009.
Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving. Followed over about 90 minutes thereafter. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Subdued nose of rose petals, white pepper and mixed berries. Flavors of mixed berries and cherries with a dash of red currants and a bit of bitters on the medium finish. Medium turning towards tart acidity, medium plus tannins, medium to full body. Drink over the short term. This is ready to go IMHO.
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3/9/2009 - glg wrote: 81 Points
My only bottle, so I don't know how it tasted in its youth, but I suspect this one has had its better days behind it. Much of the KB wow-factor on the nose is gone. The wine is a little unbalanced, even at cellar temps. There is the dreaded cough-syrup note starting to emerge. Finish is a little hot on the back of the palate and clumsy. Not complex and not eartly, just a little light in the fruit department. BTW, the 2003 RRV pinot was among my all time favorites, but I consumed those all some time ago. I was disappointed with the 2003 Kanzler in this showing.
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3/7/2009 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very similar to my experience of a year ago. (Really) Great nose of powerful cherries, vanilla, and a piney, spicy underbrush expression, but some heat as well. Rich somewhat sweet fruit-based palate with some acidity, soft tannins, and a slight etoh component. Actually was a terrific companion to seared tuna over a lentil salad with mango. Not sure how long this will go, but my guess is that this wine has plenty of life ahead (although I likely will not be able to confirm as this was my last bottle).
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12/17/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
DAWGS December 2008 (Mi Piaci's in Addison, TX): WIML92
Tasted December 17, 2008 at an offline.
Opened and decanted about 3 1/2 hours before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries and some black raspberries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Light to medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full body. Just a little hot on the nose but not offensive. Drink over the shorter towards medium term with some air time first.
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11/1/2008 - yui wrote: 90 Points
In your face pinot. Fun to drink. No elegance to it. But powerful. Last bottle. Paid $45 at retail, but not worth much more to me. Some of the heat is very evident. Like paint thinner. Cola and a bit piney? Fruit is very dark. Ultra long finish, which makes me like it some. I liked the one I had over a year ago, but maybe my taste is changing. I'm on their list now, and it's good, but may not get more esp. they are becoming $$$.
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10/14/2008 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
Cherry/blackberry cola and spice dominates this big, lush pinot. A wonderful wine. (91)
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9/21/2008 - spretzer wrote: 95 Points
I have been holding onto this bottle for awhile, but a special occasion and the reviews convinced me to open it and it was awesome. It was a big wine yet well balance with some cherry, cola. It was a full mouth of wine without being overwhelming and hot. I loved it.
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9/6/2008 - pjhr wrote: 96 Points
Layers and layers of rich hedonistic black cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors with cedar and spice notes culminating in a long long finish.
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9/6/2008 - Screameagle wrote: 95 Points
After reading the recent glowing posting on this wine I thought it was time to open one of these. So glad I did. This wine as good as it was when it was when it was young is even better now. A monumental effort by Michael Browne. Definitely one of the best KB I've ever consumed and that's saying a lot. Should hold for at least another 3 maybe 5 years.
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9/5/2008 - orcharddude22 wrote: 94 Points
It is a sad day, last bottle of the Kanzler's. This is seemless and drinking as well as it can. Baking spices, pine notes, earthy and red fruit. Fabulous.
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5/19/2008 - spotfin wrote: 88 Points
Jammy, syrupy, heat on the finish, not really my thing anymore.
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5/4/2008 - zheem wrote:
Opened tight, aromas woke up with spice and berries. Very tasty, but alcohol was distracting. Freinds enjoyed it.
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4/28/2008 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Balanced and complex with raspberry and spice aromas and flavors. Maybe a bit more candied than I prefer but not overwhelming. No hint of heat on the finish. Velvet mouthfeel as all tannins and acid are completely integrated. Good wine. This wine might be on a downslope - it was our last bottle but if I had any more I would drink them short term.
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2/24/2008 - BonnieM wrote:
This was the third bottle opened during the course of the evening and did not get the same attention as the previous bottles, however, this was quite yummy, easily drunk, lots of berry and some spice. It showed very well with no extra air time. It was poured as dinner was underway and each person commented that "this is a nice wine". We did not experience the alcoholic heat that other tasters have. This was served a little cooler than "room temp" (70F in Alaska in the winte) and poured for 5 people did not last all that long in the glass.
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2/16/2008 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Bright cherry fruit and spice on the palate. Nose was somewhat muted, even after 2 hours of decant time. Very good wine, but did not possess the WOW of the previous bottle.
Unfortunately, this was my last bottle.
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1/21/2008 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Showed darker fruit that the last bottle - lots of black raspberry. Strong characteristics of cola and pine needle. Smooth and supple on the palate and then a spicy, zesty finish. As the wine warmed that zestiness changed to a pricky acidity with the alcohol became more apparent. Tannins are fully resolved. Drink now and at a cooler temperature.
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1/19/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hours and needed most of this as the aromatics at dinner were completely amazing and captivating, but tight and ungiving on opening. The nose was chock full of beautiful pine needles, cherries, underbrush, spice and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this was a bit thick and unctuous for me given the clean cut of the nose (one of the most pleasurable CA pinots aromatically I've had in awhile). I was hoping for a bit more acidity and some stones/minerals, but both were lacking. Still, it was very nice and paired great with veal chops and the 'thickness' on entry and midpalate translated into a wonderfully lengthy, layered aftertaste. I see no reason to hold my remaining bottle.
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11/24/2007 - AlexRed wrote: 91 Points
ruby fruit and baking spice. little bit of heat... tasty. crowd pleaser
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11/3/2007 - rloomis wrote: 92 Points
the alcohol probably would have come off too hot on any lesser pinot noir, but this had so much concentrated flavor to give off what were really intense hot flavorful volatile esters.
intense berry -- raspberry compote reduction a little bit like a great grenache, but so much more refined. Very rich savory body -> clean white bacon fat -> slanina.
cayenne pepper with a little cocoa powder, touches of tar and glycerine, maui sweet onion and lard peeking out from behind the fruit. As bold as the fruit was, it maintained a very elegant and refined burgundian heritage. Just fell short of earthy character to make it to top of outstanding or extraordinary.
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9/23/2007 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Deep red in the glass with plenty of cherry, dark berries and other red fruits on the nose over a faint hint of oak. More sweet red and dark fruits in the mouth with a bit of spice and a long finish.
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7/22/2007 - orcharddude22 wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful pinot, berries, earth and spice. Needs at least an hour decant. Awesome
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7/17/2007 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Pinot tasting at Cuvee in Del Mar. Tasted amidst many wines. Too many! Showed well. Fruit, spice and a little heat. Let the other bottle mellow(?) for a year.
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7/17/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 91 Points
San Diego Pinot-fest (Cuvee Restaurant - Del Mar, CA): Can we say Cinnamon Toast Crunch? This is what greets my senses when I bring the glass to my nose. While the previous wine (2004 Vision SC) was youthful and playful, this one is downright mischievous. Dark rich cherry, blueberry, and black raspberry on the palate, along with some baking spices, to create a nice interplay of sweetness and spice. With one sip, the former seems to dominate; with another, the latter. I never really know what I am going to get with this wine. The one constant, however, is the heat, which bothered me. So while I really enjoyed the game of tag on the tasebuds, ultimately, the heat started to wear me down.
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4/13/2007 - yui wrote: 94 Points
nose of cherries, long finish, nice balance w/ acid and tannins, a lot goin on, red-hot candies? coats entire mouth, well made.
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3/4/2007 - Hillbilly wrote:
Served with fried green tomato sandwiches. A piece of Southern heaven! While I am generally a KB supporter, I did not get much out of this wine. It had an oaky velvety vanilla "yankee candle" mouthfeel. Some light fruit and oaky ? or varietal ? spice notes. Really just lathered oak to me.
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2/21/2007 - elliott.h.farber@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
A big brawny pinot KB style. Very dark almost purple color. Loads of dark fruit and black cherry notes. A hint of spice. Surprisingly light on its feet with some lighter red fruit notes on the finish. Tannins are definitely still resolving here and the mouthfeel is a bit chalky. Not super food friendly but a very stylish and impressive wine.
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2/18/2007 - shaferguy91 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours.
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2/17/2007 - budman wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic cherry nose and palate, with a marvelously smooth mouthfeel!!!!
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2/10/2007 - Mike V wrote: 92 Points
Loads of everything. Dark red color. Muted on the nose right now. Very tannic, huge structure, dark cherry, blackberry and underlying earthy dimension.
Just a big wine. I love it.
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1/26/2007 - The Epicurean wrote: 95 Points
Really need to let this bad girl open for at least an hour...seemed overly tannic at first but continued to mellow and show hugely after that. Massive garrigue, sour cherry, dry leaves, hint of tobacco...I love this wine, the longer you stay with it, the more it keeps giving.
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1/20/2007 - JFish wrote:
The 2003 was my other WOTN. It had everything in the right place and was firing on all cylinders. Again, not overripe or overdone but at the larger end of the pinot spectrum. If you're going to open a KB, give this one an hour decant and then enjoy the ride.
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10/2/2006 - DCHeel84 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour; began as a good but typical pinot with heavy cherry flavors, but over next hour or two became something special. Could use some age I guess.
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8/14/2006 - JimmyV wrote: 94 Points
Brought to BlueZoo. Opened and decanted. 30 Minutes of air before first sip. After an hour this opened up and was magnificent. Bright fruit, roses and a bit of tea. Tremendous wine.
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8/12/2006 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Moe’s: Very nice--close to the Archery S. Arcus, but maybe a bit more dark frt. Very conc., hint sweeter maybe.
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7/24/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
NYC KB-fest (Ouest): A powerful wine on a lot different levels. Black fruit (blackberries, cherries) and spice dominate the nose. The fruit is redder in the mouth with a nice citrusy tang that bites down on some of that big fruit. Tannins are definitely in play here and despite 2+ hours of decanting it was still revealing depth (cocoa, cedar, allspice) through the end of the night. Clearly this needs time to integrate the oak better and to resolve some of the backbone, but this is a phenomenal wine with years ahead of it.
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7/14/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Red fruit dominated wine. Cherry, raspberry, dried grasses and spices. Still very tight. I prefer the '03 Koplen at this stage.
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6/1/2006 - Mattswines wrote: 94 Points
Entirely too young, but filled with spice and dominating raspberry on the nose. Some rhubarb mixed in with cedar, spice, and sweet bing cherry underneath. Good length finish. Sleep baby... sleep.
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4/22/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
Central Texas Offline in Fredericksburg, TX (LilacWine's house in Fredericksburg, TX): WIML94,NOWA,WS96
Tasted April 22, 2006 at LilacWine’s house in Fredericksburg, TX. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Balloon Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plum, black cherry and spice box. Flavors of black berries, red licorice and raspberries. Simply delicious. Can be drank now but I’m going to hold my next bottle until 2009 and see what happens. I’m betting some pretty serious stuff. At the $48.00 a bottle release price from the winery the value is bordering be excellent and outstanding.
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4/22/2006 - bingedrinker wrote: 93 Points
I was surprised to see this mailing-list bottle on the wine list at Mendocino in Georgetown, Washington, DC, so I convinced my table-mates to take the plunge (they've also got a SQN Shea Vinyard). This was a pop-and-pour situation -- no decanting. We were immediately knocked out by the wave of berry aromas swelling from the glass. Taking a whif was like dipping your face into a bowl of potpouri. So, powerful aromatics. On the palate, the same thick blue- and blackberry flavors predominated, and beneath them, ripe black cherry as well. Several other nuances hidden in there, too, but I couldn't identify them so much as sense them. It wasn't all fruit pie, either; worked into the mix were stout tannins and acids that lent a pleasant bite and leveled out the fruits, providing a nice long finish. Altogether a powerful, thick, ripe glass of pinot that held together and improved as it breathed. Drank well now, but I expect it would also benefit from a year or two more in the cellar. The restaurant was charging $115; given that a recent search on winesearcher (pro) returned prices upwards of $150, I thought it was a pretty good deal. (I think it went for about $50 on the mailing list, based on CellarTracker's valuation data.) I'll add that I've never had a pinot of this sort before, and I was a bit concerned intitally whether I could appreciate such a supercharged version of that varietal. "Exotic" certainly is an appropriate descriptor. I'm pleased to say, I've been made a convert. Wonder how long it takes to get through the waiting list?
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4/9/2006 - abaler wrote: 93 Points
Very enjoyable -- like a Pinot on steroids, with nice acidity and plenty of tannins. Will age for a few years but was darn tasty now. (actually had this by accident...thought I was pulling a Sonoma Coast appellation bottle and noticed it was the Kanzler 1/2 way through after thinking "Wow, this is special!"...:-) )
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3/13/2006 - jamesn wrote:
Day1: Decanted out half a bottle and left for a couple of hours. On the nose it was pure blueberry - tasting was the same - but this time with more than a hint of sweetness and an unmistakeable whiff of alchohol on the nose. Uh-oh - this was not what I had expected. I had a glass of this but it wasn't too pleasant - I tried a little with food but this only brought out the more negative aspects of the wine.Ugh. Poured the remainder of the decanter back in the bottle to await day 2
Day2: Ok - the nose was showing a little better today. There was a touch of cherry and cola as well as the blueberry. The taste also showed a bit more complexity and a little less sweetness. There was also a much better acid balance but still not enough for me. We had a couple of glasses before dinner but moved onto another Pinot during dinner (F. Magnien Clos de La Justice 2002) which went much better with food.
Overall on Day 1 this was a C-/D+ - it was just not pleasant. On day 2 it may have reached a B-
I'm not sure if this is just not my thing - but I'm glad I was only allowed to buy one bottle of this!
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2/20/2006 - jaybdavis wrote: 75 Points
Call me odd man out but at this point all I taste is blueberry syrup.
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11/12/2005 - ajjar wrote: 96 Points
Oh my. Perhaps you still remember all those subpar pinots that made you wonder why some revere the pinot noir grape. I remember my first great one---a 1976 Burgundy drunk in 1990. This 2003 Kosta Browne is a gem that I had the pleasure of sharing with two wine friends. This was their pinot noir epiphany, much fun to share. Big surprisingly sexy tanins, deep rich and dark cherried carmel, raspberry---the tastes and flavors kept coming. Years of evolving life to come. Was even more discernible 1 and then 2 hours after opening.
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7/17/2005 - jamiekutch wrote:
Leaving NYC and moving to San Francisco; 7/16/2005-7/17/2005: Biased.. Loved it
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