Gene Harlow

9.6

Outstanding example of how a little age on the right wine can pay dividends. Seven years ago this wine was very good but hard to distinguish from other Kosta Brown vineyards. Today it has acquired charter comparable to a fine burgundy. Very pleased! — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus rind, well balanced with acidity. Medium+ finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A nice Chardonnay, ‘21 a bit better! — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous Delectable notes for this 2020 Estate. Amazing quality for the price. This is the basic Kumeu Estate Chardonnay before you consider the individual Cuvées like Mates, Coddington etc. peachy stone fruit intensity on the palate with enough acidity to keep it fresh. Should be an annual purchase. Have the last one later this year or early 2026. The Village is even less expensive at only $21.50 AUD. We had our 6th and final bottle on 9th May 2025 with consistent notes. One of the great value bargains in World wide Chardonnay. — 9 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Slightly hazy (unfined?) gold. Abundant nose of honeyed tropical fruits, baked apple, and vanilla tinged orange crème. Full-bodied palate of cooked pineapple, baked apple, hint of orange, yellow lilies, and… how does one say “baseball bat” only subtly? Another quintessential Russell Bevan white that’s a monster in body, but velvet on the palate. A big wine that begs for big, complex dishes. My drinking partner (who suggested the wine was like an Adele song… you think it’s going to be a rustic stumble, but it clearly has much more going on) made an incredible pork loin, root vegetable, and apple entrée that was right where a dish should be to stand up to this wine. Similar dishes will work. Not your grandmother’s Chardonnay. Drink now through 2023. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Sette Ponti or "seven bridges," refers to 7 bridges crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence. Blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cab Sauv & 10% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Very dark Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, cigar box & earthy notes, touch of floral citrus. Flavors of black cherry & blackberry with tobacco & spice. Fine tight tannins, long finish ending with cacao, tobacco & mineral spice as the finish builds. Decant now! Will continue to age! — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Strong aromatics and complexity. Lovely pale orange hue. Wild flowers, ripe peach, nectarine, apricot, cantaloupe, delicate prosciutto, chervil, and wet stone notes. Moderate acidity and well-balanced on the palate. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Loren Gesinsky

9.6

Wow! This was drinking splendidly at nearly 10. Layers of dark red fruit like cassis and ripe blackberry on laters of sweet herbs like sassafras on enough acidity to keep things lively. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A pale lemon yellow in colour - quite youthful looking for a 12 year old Chardonnay. Aromatics of white peach - mealy and nutty notes, still with a nice acid cut at the finish. Drinking at its peak. Fuller than some Marg River Chardonnays I’ve had lately like Xanadu and Fraser Gallop. I have had richer Art Series Chardonnays but personally I love the balance in this. Tasted in May 2025 the first bottle. Had my 2nd last bottle on 20th September 2025 and it was utterly delicious. Stone fruit and dried pear character to the fore. I will have my last bottle in the coming summer or early 2026 and will make a fresh Delectable note. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Their entry-level Chard juice not too shabby. Slightly fleshy. Hints of tropicalia without boarding that ship with three suitcases and/or a trunk. Ajax-strength acidity to clean up any spills. Teases many possibilities but afraid of committing to any specific one. Still...less than $30 USD resto cost on two cases. Sold. 02.26.25. — 8 months ago

Jess Ica Orona

9.1

Baking spices out the gate. Cinnamon. Sour cherry jam. Fresh rain soaked soil in the back. Maybe I should have decanted it but I’m getting a fair bit of heat. Granted after pregnancy and newfound mom life I’m very out of practice. Maybe some strawberry jam. On the palate we have a medium light body juicy, bright red fruit and spice at the end. Slightly sticky tannins. Nice way to celebrate the holidays. An affordable splurge to pair with a cheese board or a lean cut of beef like a fillet. Beef Wellington would be perfect. I festive pork roast would also go well. — 10 months ago

Jason Brater

9.3

Nose of oyster mushroom, water chestnut, and white peach. At PnP tastes of herbal green notes, but opened over time into unctuous deliciousness. Tastes of red grapefruit, toasted coconut, butterscotch candy. Absolutely layered complexity. Even greater on day 2. — 4 years ago

with Heather and Randall

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.5

Strawberry on palate and nose. — 5 years ago

Ashley Butler

9.5

Drank to celebrate Katherine’s graduation from USC on a rainy night in May 2020. Complex and truly delicious — 5 years ago

with Dean

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. Pleasant throughout and hit plenty of notes without screeching. The KB style has changed in the last few years. Gone are the mega-extracted pinots altho those are still around and holding up in the cellars/secondary market. Those older wines were a 10 on the volume scale. The last few vintages are closer to a 5. That said, this should hold up and develop nicely for a decade+ without issues. Those that don't think you can drink CA pinot noir over 4-5 years old are in for quite the surprise with quality producers. 04.18.25. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Fruit exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific, aged for 12 months in 25% new oak. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits and blossom and spice. On the palate flavors of apple and pear with a touch of zesty lemon, crisp, with nitty vanilla notes. Nice mouthfeel, long finish, vivid acidity. — 7 months ago

Stephanie Lunn

9.2

Dark garnet in color with red fruit on the nose. Tastes like sweet cherry, strawberry, and a hint of tea. Finishes very smooth. — 10 months ago

Ron R

9.2

So impressed with this $23 bottle. Drinks like $60, easily. Lovely aroma of soft caramel leads into baked apples on the mid palate. Nice ripe structure and acidity suggest this will continue as is for a few more years, but why wait?
Bivio, Montclair, NJ. — 10 months ago

with Anne-marie

Jake Hajer

9.3

A year later, even better- beef blood, iron, brandied cherries, plum, Five spice, strawberry, green peppercorn, sunshine on a forest floor. Macerated. — 5 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.0

Had Gary Farrell a few times prior and thoroughly enjoy. Light color, blueberry and modest cherry on nose and palate. Like the fact that this is slightly lower alcohol level. Reminds me a bit of an Oregon PN because of the light color, tannins, and easy drinking. — 5 years ago

Kevin Bohlin

9.3

Purchased at winery and stored in a controlled wine cellar. Most reviews here are a bit young, this wine is now hitting its stride but could also benefit from another 1-2 years. Some call this a California Grand Cru while some call it overrated. I love Burgundy and would say this drinks on par with mid to low tier Grand Crus in my opinion. Sweet and rich yes, but balanced with bright acid and structure. It has an impressive nose of rose, black cherry and vanilla but with an earthy herb quality that reminds me of great burgundy. More air reveals attractive grilled herbs and stem qualities. The palate is intense and rich with cherry and raspberry, powerful but silky verging on velvety texture and a long finish with a signature WS acid profile. There is a lot of oak but with this fruit and bottle age it is lovely....DRC uses even more oak so it’s not a sin with the right wine! — 6 years ago