Dan Kosta

Kosta Browne

Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Somm David T
9.1

The Crown Gap has never been my favorite from them. Still solid. Also, needs 3-4 more years in bottle to integrate. 91+ with that kind of age.

The Truffle Mac & Cheese was a big hit with the crowd, I’m allergic to mushrooms.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land.
— 3 months ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 12 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Bootlegger's Hill Chardonnay 2018

Stunning. Apple and oak. Great balance of fruit and acidity. Expensive ($80) but worth it. — 2 years ago

Tom liked this

Kosta Browne

Estate Pinot Noir 2013

I feel this is at its prime. No need to wait any longer. Had with rack of lamb. Served it a bit too cold. I would have enjoyed warmer. — 3 years ago

Massican

Annia Napa Valley Tocai Friulano Blend 2018

Dan continues to work his magic. — 6 years ago

David, Steve and 1 other liked this

Colgin Cellars

IX Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2006

Shay A
9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

The third of four Colgin’s served blind. This and the fourth were my favorites and both were different. This was much brighter and had a sweet core. Very perfumed...potpourri, violets, black cherry, cocoa dusted dates. Starts light at the entry and gains density as it hits the mid palate and finish. Retains fruit from start to finish but it’s not a show stealer, simply accompanies everything else. Total balance. My guess was between Napa Cabernet or Syrah.
— 6 years ago

joe leatherwoodDan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with joe, Dan and 3 others
Mark, "Odedi" and 36 others liked this
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

07 Cariad, 07 IX, 06 IX, and 05 Cariad all tasted blind together. Compared to all the others, my pour of this was GONE before the other three. And it wasn't even close. This is a stellar Napa Cabernet that went exceptionally well with a ribeye steak. BlackBerry, hint of truffle, chocolate, herbs, wildflowers, a little bit delicate but still full throttle and full-bodied from start to finish. Some people were guessing the entire lineup was Shiraz, and with this one and the 05 Cariad I could definitely understand that guess. In my opinion, best wine on the table, even versus the 1963 Berry Brothers & Rudd Grahams!
9.6

Massican

Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Delicious and crisp! Exactly what I look for in a Sauvignon blanc. Knew it would be good because it’s the side project of Dan Petroski (Larkmead). — 6 years ago

Marcassin

Three Sisters Vineyard Chardonnay 2005

Shay A
9.5

This is absolutely ridiculous. One of the best chardonnays I’ve ever had...all have been from Dan! Best nose on a Chardonnay I can remember. Salted popcorn kernels, toasted brioche, sweet caramel. The palate is gorgeously textured...lingers full of savory notes and wet rock. Benchmark Chardonnay. — 8 years ago

Dan FitzgeraldBenjamin KeatorWeston Eidson
with Dan, Benjamin and 1 other
Paul, Jason and 32 others liked this
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

If you haven’t already, try the Marcassin Vineyard Chard one time. @Norman Gennaro hooked us up with an -06 a couple months ago that cracked my skull.
Norman

Norman Premium Badge

@Eric Shanks we need to meet again in the new year. Early.
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Totally with you @Norman Gennaro !

Kosta Browne

Thorn Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Somm David T
9.3

Tried two of their more current releases, 21 Russian River & 21 Crown Gap and this 2017 Thorn Ridge from Magnum. Always consistent, solid Pinots from KB. Paired well with the Duck.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land.
— 3 months ago

Jay, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Treehouse Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Nice Pinot Noir. Very intense fruit flavors that are a little too much. Definitely an excellent wine, but just too strong at this time. Perhaps wait a few years. — a year ago

Kosta Browne

Koplen Vineyard Pinot Noir

Stunning. Love the pure 667 clone. Strawberry with floral notes. — 5 years ago

P liked this

The Standish Wine Company

The Relic Shiraz Blend 2004

Somm David T
9.6

Happy Valentines Day!

If you have not looked for this wine on WineSearcher.com or other, you should. Dan Standish has no American Importer. However, you can mail order off his list. Good luck with the Australian/United States import costs. Very prohibited.

Most quality Barossa wines take 15 years in bottle to show their ultimate beauty. Dan’s wines are no different. His Estate vines are 100 years old and produce 500 pounds of fruit per acre...very concentrated. Contrast that to extremely expensive & high quality Napa fruit, those Napa producers are at 2,000-2,500 pounds per acre.

We visited Standish in April 2017. We found Dan to be extremely talented & definitely marches to his own drum. He is salt of the earth and has traveled & worked in many of the world wine regions honing his craft and landing as Torbreck’s Winemaker in Barossa before starting, “The Standish Wine Company.”

As good as the 04 is tonight, it has 15 years of good life ahead...properly stored of course.

The nose is very intoxicating. It is a nice blend of purple, black & blue fruits. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, medium dark spice, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender.

The body is full, rich, ripe, lush and creamy on the palate after a two-hour plus decant. The structure, tension, length and balance are a little short of its peak and will hold there for 5-8 years. It’s a glorious glide on the palate. The fruits are ripe & lightly baked. Mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, black plums, plums, blackberries, dark cherries, deeply extracted raspberries, some baked strawberries, cherry kirsch, red & black licorice to anise, dark fruit cola, black olive skin, the dark spices are heavier on the palate & bring just the right amount of heat, sweet, dark tarriness, black pepper, used, dark expresso roast grounds, charcoal, graphite, dry tobacco & underbrush, some bay leaf, alluvial soils, grey volcanic minerals/limestone, moist clay, with fresh & only slightly withering, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets & lavender. The acidity is round, flush & perfect. The long finish is a unique even balance of; lush fruits, spice, herbs and earth that persists on the palate for minutes.

Photo on the left of Sofia’s 2 dozen long stems. Love you so much!

@Oswald
— 5 years ago

Eric, P and 28 others liked this
Sofia Jalilie

Sofia Jalilie

Great compliment to the rib eye- lovely Valentine’s dinner with my one and only ❤️

E. Guigal

La Doriane Condrieu Viognier 2013

Late add from a few weeks ago- courtesy of @Dan Blackwell. One of the best and most consistent Viognier out there IMHO. — 6 years ago

Shay, Iwan and 17 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Agreed.

Peter Michael Winery

'La Carrière' Knights Valley Chardonnay 2011

Shay A
9.2

Forgot to post these from the other day. Mark, Dan and I were able to enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the wine storage facility, and some unique stuff was opened, as always!

Don’t think I’ve ever had this PM Chardonnay. Great nose of salted popcorn kernel and the finish had a mineral & stone driven note. Hint of caramel too. Probably in its best drinking window. Thanks Dan.
— 7 years ago

Dan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with Dan and Mark
Y, Aaron and 32 others liked this
Hugh O'Riordan

Hugh O'Riordan

I’ve had this wine. Amazing

Kosta Browne

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014

Tasting really good right now. Less sweet than a non single vintage — 4 months ago

Kosta Browne

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry, baking spice, hint of hay and blackberry. A bit stronger than the Rosellas Vineyard. Dark cherry, cocoa and plum on the palate. — 8 months ago

Quentin Heim
with Quentin
Daniel, Tom and 9 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2021

Pale ruby color. Aromas of blackberry, herbs and smoky oak. Fantastic dark cherry, violet, and cranberry notes with a silky finish. — 2 years ago

Tom, Ira and 20 others liked this

Alden Alli

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016

This is Dan Kosta (Kosta Brown) new label. It’s a good example of Sonoma with raspberry and cherry tones with a brightness and acidity that work great with our spicy miso salmon. — 5 years ago

Ira, Tom and 5 others liked this

Peter Michael Winery

Point Rouge Chardonnay 2012

Shay A
9.5

Today was an absolutely fantastic Friday hosting at the City Club by @Dan Fitzgerald. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine. Great job Dan!

My notes against the first white were that this was more lifted and slightly lighter in body. In fact, I called this 2012 Aubert (one of their Sonoma Coast Vineyards) as I picked up lemon cream on the nose and palate. Sea salt, marzipan, honeycomb and lemon pound cake dominate the senses. Touch of heat on the finish. This is drinking marvelously right now.
— 6 years ago

joe leatherwoodDan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with joe, Dan and 3 others
Mark, Ryan and 34 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Severn Goodwin : I believe this is their highest end Chardonnay. Not seen often! 99points (for those who like to know points).
Severn Goodwin

Severn Goodwin Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Shay A I'm not about critic points, they don't always align with my personal scores. Nice notes, sounds like a fun bottle to seek out.
Mark Flesher

Mark Flesher

Wow, what a Chardonnay! This was served next to the 2012, both served blind. This Chardonnay was the total package. I guessed the approximate year and region. Lots of guesses for Aubert here. Nose and palate of toasted brioche, peach, pear, white flowers. Thick, full-bodied, viscous, rounded, 30-45 second finish. perfectly balanced and integrated. Ready to kick some ass. This is probably in the running for best domestic Chardonnay I have experienced to date. And amazing how different this one was served right next to a Peter Michael that was one vintage younger!
9.5

Peter Michael Winery

Belle Côte Chardonnay 2012

Shay A
9.5

I don’t think I have even gotten a note of banana bread pudding on the nose of a wine before. Wow! Mint and honeycomb. A slight waxy character note too. Viscous, large and in charge. Commands attention from everything else on the table. Candied vanilla marshmallow? So unique and incredibly delicious. Awesome bottle @Dan Fitzgerald . — 7 years ago

Dan Fitzgerald
with Dan
Jimmy, Ryan and 34 others liked this

Cirq

Bootlegger's Hill Pinot Noir 2014

Excellent Pinot. The Kosta Browne team nailed it — 8 years ago