Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents? From a hot vintage. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes. A nice Chardonnay. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Pale yellow with pleasing aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, adding in spice and some biscuit notes. On the palate complex palate of flavors, fresh fruit, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, peaches and Asian pears. Slight earthiness with a smooth and creamy well balanced finish ending with a gentle yeasty character. Very nice! Consistent quality! Will age well! — 7 months ago

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. — 8 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. — 9 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Nice blend of aromas. Green apple, pear, white flowers and a touch of citrus. Same fruits on the pallet along with hints of almonds and yellow apple. Hint of salinity on the finish. Not buttery at all. Exceptional balance and complexity. Crisp and medium bodied. Thank You John P. — 4 years ago

Drew Schwartz

8.9

Beautiful bottle. Starts of simple enough with some currant but on the tongue the ripeness gives way to some light spice and calming finish. Very well balanced. Deceivingly so. — 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 — 6 years ago

with Dean

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep Ruby color with aromas of red berry fruit and sweet spices. On the palate flavors of ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors, with some dried fruit notes, toasty oak, cinnamon spice and cola tones. Fine tannins with balanced acidity, medium+ finish ending with fruit and spice. Will age a little. — 2 months ago

Alan Johnston

9.5

3.5. Fine Pinot Noir with excellent fruits focused on raspberries and a smooth mineraly finish. Very satisfying. On sale for $31.99. — 5 months ago

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! — 8 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! — 9 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Astonishing quality for their regular Estate bottling - not their individual vineyard Cuvées like Mates etc. Toasty, nutty (oak derived) notes along with yellow peach. M+ intensity on the palate. Not for long keeping but a great drink right now. — 2 years 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

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

Scott E. Becker

9.4

[Tasted on September 13, 2025 at etc. in Nashville with Jay, and again on November 8, 2025 at Philippe Chow in Nashville with Jay]

Bright black cherry and blackberry fruit, with black tea and wood spice. — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.6

Crisp but balanced with citrus and crème brûlée. Great acidity for food but has enough flavor to stand on it’s own. — 4 months ago

with Becky

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. — 8 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. — 10 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

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