If you like the big, rich, succulent style of Kosta Browne Pinot Noirs, you really need to take a look at this one. In fact, the 2021 Jonive Russian River Pinot outscored the 2021 Kosta Browne Pinot by 4 points and costs about half as much!
Facts are facts, and Wine Spectator's Senior Editor James Molesworth scored Jonive's 2021 Pinot at 93 points, while he gave the 2021 Kosta Browne 89 points. Here's another interesting fact: just 975 cases of the Jonive were produced, while over 8,000 cases of the Kosta Browne were made. Here's the real kicker, though:
We're selling the Jonive for just $54.99/bottle best price, no further discounts.
Wine Spectator's suggested retail for the Kosta is $110, and it's $70 for the Jonive. Here's the proof:
So we're talking about a wine that drinks in that same style, scored notably higher with Wine Spectator, costs about half as much, and was made in much smaller quantities. If you ask me, that's a pretty tough combination to beat!
And this is not some huge-production California Pinot that you're going to find everywhere. Jonive is a tiny, family-owned estate working with Pinot Noir from their Moon Dust Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills, one of the coolest parts of the Russian River Valley. The vineyard is organically farmed and planted in Goldridge soil, with Pinot Noir vines dating back to 2007.
My tasting notes were remarkably similar to Wine Spectator's:
"Ripe and succulent, showing a delicious set of raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors dotted with dried anise, black tea and singed wood spice notes. This is rich yet defined and toasty yet fresh. Drink now through 2031."
Yep, that's pretty much exactly what I tasted. This is the kind of California Pinot I love when I want something with some heft and polish but don't want to spend a hundred bucks.
Here's the deal: $54.99 by the bottle, 93 points from Wine Spectator, and only 36 bottles available. Once these are gone, they're gone... because I bought it all!
If Kosta Browne is your thing, I would not hesitate on this one. Get some!
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
