2017 Russian River Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Aged 17 months in 45% new French oak, the pale to medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens with broody aromas of spiced cranberry sauce, crushed black cherries, loam, cumin seeds, dried leaves and a classy framing of new oak spice with notions of orange peel and amaro. It's medium-bodied and silky, offering plush, ripe fruits in the mouth, with a grainy frame and mouthwatering freshness, finishing very long. This is a tick up in complexity from the 2016 version. "We had all our fruit in the week before the fires started, and we were able to get into the winery and everything was fine," says assistant winemaker Julien Howsepian. 8,500 cases produced.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
This is a blend of more than a dozen parcels. It has such sweet red-fruit aromas with a sweet-spice edge, too. The palate has super smooth, approachable and soft, fleshy red cherries. Drink now.
The 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley comes from a multitude of sites and spent 17 months in 45% new French oak. It's slightly more reticent than the Sonoma Coast and offers more raspberry, ripe cherries, cola, mulled spiced, and earth. Rounded, beautifully textured, and medium to full-bodied, it has a supple, seamless style that's already a joy to drink. Nevertheless, I suspect it will keep for upwards of a decade.
About the producer
Kosta Browne is one of California's most acclaimed wineries, renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that express the character of top vineyard sites across Sonoma and beyond. Combining meticulous sourcing with thoughtful winemaking, the wines offer richness, precision, and remarkable sense of place.