2012 Kosta Browne Giusti Ranch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

(94 Points)  --  (Wine Advocate)

I believe a new vineyard, the 2012 Pinot Noir Giusti Vineyard, shares some similarities to the the Koplen Vineyard, with its intense, focused style. Showing plenty of plum, licorice, toasted spices (cinnamon) and hints of vanilla bean, this beauty flows onto the palate with no hard edges, beautiful mid-palate density and a focused, lengthy feel on the finish. Nothing is out of place here, and it's a rock-star bottle of wine that can be consumed anytime over the coming 4-6 years. This was another stacked lineup by the team of Dan Kosta and Michael Browne. All of these wines showed the more approachable style of the 2012 vintage, and had seamless, elegant characters. They're beautiful now, but I suspect they will evolve nicely given their overall balance. (JD)    Review Date: 10/2014