Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Picking favorites from the long and lengthening lists of single-site bottlings that so many top-tier Pinot producers now offer is never an easy task, especially when faced with the embarrassment of riches that is the 2013 Kosta Browne lot. That said, this stunning effort from the Kanzler Vineyard certainly vies for top honors by dint of its fruity depth, its lovely balance and as its mate above but does at least outpoint its similarly labeled sibling from the 2011 vintage. This one smells ripe but does not act it on the palate, and while there are sweet cherry scents to be had, the fruit retreats as acidity kicks in and a barky, woodsy note emerges. It is tasty in its own right but comes across as a bit less than polished on the whole.
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Wine Spectator
Shows wonderful depth, richness, balance and complexity, with enticing aromas and an array of blackberry, raspberry, licorice, fresh-turned earth and crushed rock flavors, ending smooth. The tannins exhibit nice grip at the very end. Drink now through 2022. 665 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The last vineyard harvested, the 2013 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard, wasn’t brought in until between the 8th and 11th of October. Mostly destemmed and aged 16 months in just under 40% new French oak, it has a cool, fresh, perfumed style to go with lots of rose garden, framboise, black cherry and spice. Lightly textured, elegant and vibrant, it should benefit from a year in bottle and drink well through 2023.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.