Kosta Browne Winery--Anyone Like Their Wine? (1 Viewer)

[chet]

I've been on the waiting list for years and finally got notice that I can order directly from the vineyard. Anyone else order from them?

 

[sbonomo]

i have these probably 1-2x per quarter...they are very highly rated but i have never been a fan...i have found many other pinot that i thought were superior for half the price. This wine is half the price and much better in my opinion http://www.williamsselyem.com/ . Try this one as well http://www.sojourncellars.com/ for about 1/3 ther price. They do have a ledgendary wine (four barrels) that i have never had....I heard that a local steak house has 1/2 of a case at 500 per bottle....It is supposed to compete with all of the famous french burgundy's.

 

[matuski]

yes.

longtime fan, boss is an investor.

 

[sbonomo]

One more thing...i heard that they have been bought out by a hedge fund so they are starting to leverage the brand (name) to help earnings...not sure how true this is.

 

[Quint]

One more thing...i heard that they have been bought out by a hedge fund so they are starting to leverage the brand (name) to help earnings...not sure how true this is.

KB was purchased about five years ago by Vincraft. Dan, Mike, and Chris are all still part of the program. with the $40M purchase, KB moved their production facility to The Barlow (in Sebastapol) and have upped their production to somewhere north of 10k cases. in addition to the appellation wines - Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands - i think they're still producing SVDs from Keefer Ranch, Gap's Crown, Kanzler, and Koplen (the first two they own pieces of the vineyard).

i was on the list for a number of years, but stopped buying when the appellation wines got to $55++ (now at $64 with the Fall Release) and SVDs went upwards of $80. i can find pleasure in CA Pinot Noir at much lower price point. that said, i'm a big KB fan. they have a ripe(er) style which i enjoy, though in the last two vintages they've dialed it back a notch, which i think is a good thing.

 

[southeastjerome]

Very interesting. I have been on the Kosta Browne waiting list since 2010 and just got on. A friend of mine had been on the waiting list and made it this year too. Seems like they are expanding production.

 

[Skylord]

If you just made it on the list, you now have a much longer wait to get their vineyard designates. Expect to get nothing but their lower tier wines for a few years.

 

[chet]

If you just made it on the list, you now have a much longer wait to get their vineyard designates. Expect to get nothing but their lower tier wines for a few years.

My friend who's been on the list since ~2009 still doesn't have access to their fall release.

 

[chet]

Very interesting. I have been on the Kosta Browne waiting list since 2010 and just got on. A friend of mine had been on the waiting list and made it this year too. Seems like they are expanding production.

Did you get 3 bottles each of their Russian River and Sonoma Coast pinots?

 

[Skylord]

Expanding and increasing output generally means a drop in quality. It should be interesting to see how the RR and SC get reviewed the next few years. These are the money maker wines, I have no doubt the high end wines will continue to be excellent...but out of reach.

 

[Skylord]

One more thing...i heard that they have been bought out by a hedge fund so they are starting to leverage the brand (name) to help earnings...not sure how true this is.

KB was purchased about five years ago by Vincraft. Dan, Mike, and Chris are all still part of the program. with the $40M purchase, KB moved their production facility to The Barlow (in Sebastapol) and have upped their production to somewhere north of 10k cases. in addition to the appellation wines - Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands - i think they're still producing SVDs from Keefer Ranch, Gap's Crown, Kanzler, and Koplen (the first two they own pieces of the vineyard).

i was on the list for a number of years, but stopped buying when the appellation wines got to $55++ (now at $64 with the Fall Release) and SVDs went upwards of $80. i can find pleasure in CA Pinot Noir at much lower price point. that said, i'm a big KB fan. they have a ripe(er) style which i enjoy, though in the last two vintages they've dialed it back a notch, which i think is a good thing.

California pinots aren't totally my thing but I do drink them. I'd be interested in your suggestions. Much prefer my American pinots from Oregon and Washington

 

[Quint]

for those new to the KB list:

allocations are based, in some fashion, on your purchase history. a lot of wait-listers got added this year with the 2012 release since it was such a huge crop. 2013 will likely be the same way. my guess is that all new adds were offered some come combination of RRV and SC (no SLH) with an option to "wish-list" some additional bottles. if you're really into KB and want larger allocations on the future, be sure to "wish-list" as much as possible.

Skylord is correct: the SDVs (Fall Release) are highly-allocated and new adds will likely be granted "wish list" only status, if at all.

for those of you who like the KB style and/or follow Michael Browne, you can check out his new label Cirq here. the 2011 Treehouse Vyd. Pinot Noir should be near $100/btl.

 

[Quint]

One more thing...i heard that they have been bought out by a hedge fund so they are starting to leverage the brand (name) to help earnings...not sure how true this is.

KB was purchased about five years ago by Vincraft. Dan, Mike, and Chris are all still part of the program. with the $40M purchase, KB moved their production facility to The Barlow (in Sebastapol) and have upped their production to somewhere north of 10k cases. in addition to the appellation wines - Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands - i think they're still producing SVDs from Keefer Ranch, Gap's Crown, Kanzler, and Koplen (the first two they own pieces of the vineyard).

i was on the list for a number of years, but stopped buying when the appellation wines got to $55++ (now at $64 with the Fall Release) and SVDs went upwards of $80. i can find pleasure in CA Pinot Noir at much lower price point. that said, i'm a big KB fan. they have a ripe(er) style which i enjoy, though in the last two vintages they've dialed it back a notch, which i think is a good thing.

California pinots aren't totally my thing but I do drink them. I'd be interested in your suggestions. Much prefer my American pinots from Oregon and Washington

sure. i don't often equate price with quality when it comes to wine, but in my experience PN is the exception. here are some of my recent favorites at under $64:

Sandler Wine Co. - 2012 Bien Nacido PN ($36) and 2012 Keefer Ranch PN ($40)

Cellars 33 - Current vintage (2011/12) Russian River Valley PN ($33)

Enkidu Wine - 2012 Russian River Valley PN ($28)

Red Car Wine Co. - 2012 Sonoma Coast PN ($40)

Holdredge Wine - 2011 Russian River Valley PN ($35)

Copain Wines - 2011 Tous Ensemble PN ($28)

Joseph Swan Wine - 2011 Saralee's Vyd PN ($36)

Romilily Wine - 2012 Sonoma Co. PN ($30) and 2011 Russian River Valley PN ($35)

 

[Skylord]

for those new to the KB list:

allocations are based, in some fashion, on your purchase history. a lot of wait-listers got added this year with the 2012 release since it was such a huge crop. 2013 will likely be the same way. my guess is that all new adds were offered some come combination of RRV and SC (no SLH) with an option to "wish-list" some additional bottles. if you're really into KB and want larger allocations on the future, be sure to "wish-list" as much as possible.

Skylord is correct: the SDVs (Fall Release) are highly-allocated and new adds will likely be granted "wish list" only status, if at all.

for those of you who like the KB style and/or follow Michael Browne, you can check out his new label Cirq here. the 2011 Treehouse Vyd. Pinot Noir should be near $100/btl.

Yep, wine spectator is listing it at $100. Only achieved 90pts.

 

[chet]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

 

[sbonomo]

If anyone really wants to try it, a buddy of mine get's 18-24 bottles of the highend KB's allocated every year....he offers me a portion of his allocation (i got 8 saxums from his allocation this year) which in turn helps him get higher priority. I would be happy to order on your behalf if you are really interested...I have always passed because of the price vs quality....

 

[chet]

If anyone really wants to try it, a buddy of mine get's 18-24 bottles of the highend KB's allocated every year....he offers me a portion of his allocation (i got 8 saxums from his allocation this year) which in turn helps him get higher priority. I would be happy to order on your behalf if you are really interested...I have always passed because of the price vs quality....

Sure.

Thx

 

[Quint]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

outside of Cult Cabernet? yep:

Carlisle

Bedrock

Williams Selyem

Three Sticks

Rhys

Saxum

Blackbird

(come to think of it, most of these wines are available in the secondary market, though likely at prices over release)

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

outside of Cult Cabernet? yep:

Carlisle

Bedrock

Williams Selyem

Three Sticks

Rhys

Saxum

Blackbird

(come to think of it, most of these wines are available in the secondary market, though likely at prices over release)

I purchased a case of the carlisle mixed zins at $30 per bottle, bedrock zins at $25 per bottle (great deal) and saxums (2 syrah 2 GSM) at $90 per bottle recently. We can all have a football guy wine tasting one of these days...

 

[Quint]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

outside of Cult Cabernet? yep:

Carlisle

Bedrock

Williams Selyem

Three Sticks

Rhys

Saxum

Blackbird

(come to think of it, most of these wines are available in the secondary market, though likely at prices over release)

I purchased a case of the carlisle mixed zins at $30 per bottle, bedrock zins at $25 per bottle (great deal) and saxums (2 syrah 2 GSM) at $90 per bottle recently. We can all have a football guy wine tasting one of these days...

I actually used to know the owner of Blackbird through a friend. Great stuff. He let me buy a case without being on the wine list if i recall.

yeah, Michael is a really nice guy. my wife (who drinks 99% white wine) did an interview with him for an article she was writing a few years back. he took her to dinner, and opened one of his Blackbird Merlots.

she came home raving about what a phenomenal wine it was and we should get a bunch to have around the house. i had to explain that $70 bottles of Merlot, no matter how delicious, were not "Wednesday night pizza wine".

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

I would take the Saxum Syrah over the scarecrow Cab any day and i would save myself $100 bucks..........

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

outside of Cult Cabernet? yep:

Carlisle

Bedrock

Williams Selyem

Three Sticks

Rhys

Saxum

Blackbird

(come to think of it, most of these wines are available in the secondary market, though likely at prices over release)

I purchased a case of the carlisle mixed zins at $30 per bottle, bedrock zins at $25 per bottle (great deal) and saxums (2 syrah 2 GSM) at $90 per bottle recently. We can all have a football guy wine tasting one of these days...

I actually used to know the owner of Blackbird through a friend. Great stuff. He let me buy a case without being on the wine list if i recall.

yeah, Michael is a really nice guy. my wife (who drinks 99% white wine) did an interview with him for an article she was writing a few years back. he took her to dinner, and opened one of his Blackbird Merlots.

she came home raving about what a phenomenal wine it was and we should get a bunch to have around the house. i had to explain that $70 bottles of Merlot, no matter how delicious, were not "Wednesday night pizza wine".

That's a good women.....Now you just have to reel her in a touch..

 

[Skylord]

I receive a Bryant allocation if anyone ever wants some...no I don't keep it all for myself. Generally just one bottle of each. But I do want the allocation for when 1997 happens again.

 

[Quint]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

I would take the Saxum Syrah over the scarecrow Cab any day and i would save myself $100 bucks..........

I've just joined all these waiting lists. Will I actually be able to order some of these?

if you're swinging for fences, might as well add Colgin Cellars to your wait list signups.

 

[chet]

Offered some Grace Family 2011 Cab. Should I buy? $200/bottle

 

[Skylord]

Offered some Grace Family 2011 Cab. Should I buy? $200/bottle

Based on the reviews the cab has received the last few years...no.

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

I would take the Saxum Syrah over the scarecrow Cab any day and i would save myself $100 bucks..........

I've just joined all these waiting lists. Will I actually be able to order some of these?

i have been on Saxum wait list for three years now....Buddy has a 24 bottle allocation and works in the trade...he still has not got an invite to the tasting room.

 

[sbonomo]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

I would take the Saxum Syrah over the scarecrow Cab any day and i would save myself $100 bucks..........

I've just joined all these waiting lists. Will I actually be able to order some of these?

if you're swinging for fences, might as well add Colgin Cellars to your wait list signups.

i swear i have been on this wait list for 10 years plus...i really hope i gave them my generic yahoo email and not my work email....

 

[Quint]

I'm on the Screaming Eagle waiting list but never expect to get "called up".

Any waiting lists for good wineries that you can expect to wade through in a few years?

I hear scarecrow is another good one. Not sure if you'll ever actually make it.

I did not like this one.......

I would take the Saxum Syrah over the scarecrow Cab any day and i would save myself $100 bucks..........

I've just joined all these waiting lists. Will I actually be able to order some of these?

if you're swinging for fences, might as well add Colgin Cellars to your wait list signups.

i swear i have been on this wait list for 10 years plus...i really hope i gave them my generic yahoo email and not my work email....

yeah, that list is brutal. the only one worse has to be Sine Qua Non.

 

[17seconds]

I've been on the waiting list for years and finally got notice that I can order directly from the vineyard. Anyone else order from them?

Does anyone like unarguably the best lineup of Pinots out there for the last decade?

yeah

 

[sbonomo]

Offered some Grace Family 2011 Cab. Should I buy? $200/bottle

I just asked my buddy in the trade...he said they have steadily gone downhill since the 90's.....sounds like a pass....

 

[southeastjerome]

Very interesting. I have been on the Kosta Browne waiting list since 2010 and just got on. A friend of mine had been on the waiting list and made it this year too. Seems like they are expanding production.

Did you get 3 bottles each of their Russian River and Sonoma Coast pinots?

That's exactly what i got. Did you end up ordering? Today is the last day and I am on the fence. Was 2012 a good year for Pinot? I might just buy one of each so I can continue to receive allocations.

 

[chet]

Very interesting. I have been on the Kosta Browne waiting list since 2010 and just got on. A friend of mine had been on the waiting list and made it this year too. Seems like they are expanding production.

Did you get 3 bottles each of their Russian River and Sonoma Coast pinots?

That's exactly what i got. Did you end up ordering? Today is the last day and I am on the fence. Was 2012 a good year for Pinot? I might just buy one of each so I can continue to receive allocations.

Yes, I ordered 3 of each.

Don't know if 2012 was a good year for Pinot.

 

[chet]

I was also offered some 2011 Kistler Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and 2011 Checkerboard Red.

Any thoughts?

 

[chet]

I was also offered some 2011 Kistler Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and 2010 Checkerboard 2010 KINGS ROW NAPA VALLEY RED WINE.

Any thoughts?

 

[xulf]

Bedrock sent me an allocation. Most is sold out and all that's left are white wines which I'm not a huge fan of. The Albarino interests me, but i'd only want one bottle and they charge $18 for shipping.

Yeah, that shipping cost is like 3-4 bottles if wine...

 

[chet]

Bedrock sent me an allocation. Most is sold out and all that's left are white wines which I'm not a huge fan of. The Albarino interests me, but i'd only want one bottle and they charge $18 for shipping.

You didn't get offered this red from Bedrock?

2012 Pagani Ranch Heritage Wine

Price: $37.00

Limit: 4

 

[chet]

Bedrock sent me an allocation. Most is sold out and all that's left are white wines which I'm not a huge fan of. The Albarino interests me, but i'd only want one bottle and they charge $18 for shipping.

You didn't get offered this red from Bedrock?

2012 Pagani Ranch Heritage Wine

Price: $37.00

Limit: 4

Mine shows sold out.

Sold out for me too. It was available yesterday.

 

[chet]

Anyone try the Vineyardist cab? Pricey at 175 per.

 

[Bucky86]

Just got an email that Bedrock wines is releasing some wines on August 12th. FCFS