Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rustic and edgy, in an alluring style, with a crushed rock minerality to the vivid dark berry, raspberry and subtle earth and herb touches. The finish gains momentum and carries the flavors a long way. Drink now through 2021.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
As a group, Kosta Browne’s Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots are particularly successful in 2013, and, even in this, the winery’s basic appellation bottling, that success is palpable. The wine is fleshy and lithe with a wealth of ripe, well-defined, black cherry fruit, and while it may not be quite as deep as those from Garys’ and Rosella’s vineyards, it tempers its ready richness with a bit of tailoring that affords it a sense of polish and poise all its own. It is sure to tempt early drinking but is balanced to last and will hold up effortlessly for many years.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.