Demand continues to soar for Kosta Browne wines as the waiting list has grown over the years. In 2011, their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was named Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year.

In 2013, they established a new home for this cult winery in The Barlow in Sebastopol, California. In recent years, there have been a series of owners with the latest occurring in 2018 when Napa’s Duckhorn Wine Company purchased Kosta Browne. Today, the winery crafts 14 different wines with an annual production of nearly 25,000 cases.

Gary’s Vineyard was founded in 1997 and is farmed by the Pisoni and Franscioni families. This extremely seductive Pinot Noir from Kosta Browne reveals glistening medium ruby edges from all sides of the glass. It is an ethereal piece of craftsmanship with an exotic framework of silk laden red orchard berries laced with creme anglaise. Behind the captivating first impression are accents of brown spices, sweet balsamic notes and cola held together with sleek, gently polished tannins. This is a seamless and expressive wine that takes you on a long journey and concludes with a savory and very memorable mouthfeel. The finish lingers for minutes as you beg for more. Congrats to winemaker Julien Howsepian on this achievement.

By W Peter Hoyne