Convene by Dan Kosta 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Ranked #13 of the top 100 wines reviewed by Wine Enthusiast internationally in 2023.

97 points Wine Enthusiast: “This wine from one of Kosta Browne's founders shows just-ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors that are compelling and delicious. Moderate tannins and good acidity lift the fruit across the palate and through the finish. Beautiful aromas of black fruits, rose petals and violets continue to echo."

DK Grail, The Approach Pinot Noir 2021

From Dan Kosta:  “The Approach Pinot Noir is a selection of our top four barrels of Pinot Noir from the vintage.  Unconstrained by geographic limits, the 2021 blend draws from all three of the finest Pinot Noir appellations in California: Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and West Sonoma Coast. Pristine fruit from our longtime friends at Garys’ Vineyard, Campbell Ranch, Umino, and Gantz vineyards come together to create the elegant profile of this wine, which is aged 15 months in French Oak barrels. This release is multidimensional, with age-worthy tannins and balanced acidity leading to a complete, satisfying finish.”

Lombardi 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

91 points Wine Enthusiast: “Rich, ripe fruit flavors and a melted, relaxed texture give this full-bodied wine an easygoing feel. It is mouthfilling, saturated with plums and dried cherries, and ready to enjoy with most any bird or beast.”

91 points James Suckling

Lombardi 2019 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

92 points Wine Enthusiast: “Rich black and blue fruit linger along a robust, powerful framework of tannin and oak in this coastal wine, sourced from several sources, including Gap's Crown, Hill Justice and Gantz. A lightness of baking spice, dried herb and black pepper accent and complement the fruit, finishing in a touch of mocha.”

93 points Wine Spectator: “This offers up a delicious burst of damson plum, cherry and raspberry puree flavors that sail through in lockstep, with a light savory thread and a ripple of minerality. Very tasty.”

Kosta Browne 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

95 points Jeb Dunnuck:  “The 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was mostly destemmed and brought up in 31% new French oak. Its ruby/purple hue is followed by a wonderful bouquet of black cherries, darker raspberry, spice, and hints of earth and forest floor. It's a darker, spicy Russian River Valley effort that's medium to full-bodied and has terrific balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It shows the purity and class that now defines this estate. It's well worth seeking out and is going to keep for at least a decade.

93 points Wine Spectator:  “Violet notes accent the juicy crushed red cherry and raspberry tart flavors, backed by vibrant acidity. Exhibits spicy focus midpalate, leading to a finish that lingers with flint and hot stone hints.”

92 points Wine Enthusiast:  “Sites along the lines of Zio Tony, Silver Eagle, Jenkins, Keefer, Treehouse and more contribute the rich reward of the appellation, opening with juicy earthy delicate fruit. The black cherry and raspberry are spice-laden and peppery in cola, with length and breadth on the palate.”

91 points Wine Advocate:  “Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens up with classic red and black cherry fruit accented by touches of rhubarb, fragrant earth, tea leaves and Angostura bitters. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, expansive and spicy, finishing long and juicy. Fruit comes from at least a dozen vineyards across the appellation.”

Kosta Browne 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

94 points Jeb Dunnuck:  “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.”

93 points Wine Advocate:  “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.”

93 points Wine & Spirits:  “Nico Cuevo sources the fruit for this Russian River Valley pinot from a host of vineyards, focusing on sites near the Kosta Browne winery in Sebastopol. In 2017, he built a wine with stature, lovely richness and the tight, muscular body of a marathon runner. Its sour-cherry notes carry tense floral and earthy scents, quiet in the middle, then amplified into the finish toward a far horizon line. This is a generous wine with some brightness and tension to sustain it over the next several years in the cellar.”

93 points Wine Enthusiast:  “A delightfully thoughtful and richly rewarding appellation wine, sourced from Bootlegger’s Hill, Treehouse, Zio Tony and other stellar sites, this is hearty in red and blue fruit, cardamom and a taste of cola. Velvety rich and layered, it has well-integrated oak and broad appeal, with a lasting thread of acidity.”

92 points James Suckling:  “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.” 

Kosta Browne 2016 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

93 points James Suckling:  “Some dried fruit and dried flowers on the nose with hints of spices and strawberries. Full body and round, soft tannins. Yet, it shows brightness and vivid undertones, giving it vigor.”

92 points Wine Advocate:  “The 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was aged partly for 15 months in 47% new French oak, partly for ten months in 5% concrete tank. It has a pale to medium ruby color and very inviting nose: pomegranate, cranberry jelly, violet, orange peel and red cherry candy are accented with nuances of dried leaves and a light framing of spices. It's medium-bodied, silky and offers great restraint—very intense but not over the top—with a soft, grainy frame and juicy acidity to lift the long, red berry finish. This isn't the most complex wine in the world, but it's exactly as it should be for an appellation-wide Pinot Noir—simply delicious!”

92 points Wine Spectator:  “The mix of red berry, wild berry, licorice and gravelly earth flavors offers lots of substance, maintaining a tight focus and ending with a long, persistent finish.”

91 points Jeb Dunnuck: “The largest production cuvée is the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, which sees close to 50% new barrels. This juicy, fruit forward, medium-bodied effort offers classic notes of mulberries, raspberries, and hints of orange blossom. It’s another seamless, balanced 2016 that has the remarkable purity and elegance that’s the hallmark of the 2016 vintage.”

Kosta Browne 2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

95 points Jeb Dunnuck:  “There are 5,500 cases of the 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley and it’s a deeply colored, ripe, sexy, beast of an appellation wine that’s as good, or better, then several of the single vineyards. Black raspberries, cassis, roasted herbs, violets, and loads of toasted spice give way to a full-bodied, beautifully textured 2015 that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It's already drinking beautifully but should keep nicely on its balance and purity.” 

94 points James Suckling:  “The bright fruit and hints of citrus come through clearly in this wine on the nose. Medium to full body, linear fine tannins and a fresh citrusy backbone of acidity. Lively.” 

92 points Wine Spectator:  “Lightly perfumed floral and raspberry scents gain depth, weight and dimension, with blackberry, raspberry, spice and sandy earth notes that are refined.”

Kosta Browne 2014 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

93 points Wine Advocate:  “The appellation 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley from this team is a smoking effort. Mostly destemmed and brought up in 44% new French oak, it's loaded with notions of black raspberries, toasted spice, licorice and underbrush. These give way to a full-bodied, concentrated, textured Pinot Noir that packs plenty of fruit, while never losing the elegance and purity of the variety. It will evolve every bit as well as most of the single vineyard releases.”

91 points Wine Spectator: “Smooth and inviting, offering charming flavors of wild berry, blueberry, spice and cedar. Supple in texture, long and lingering on the finish.”