2012 Pinot Noir Kanzler

Much of the talk during the ten days I spent in Sonoma earlier this year centered around the recent investor swap at Kosta Browne, a transaction that places the winery's present day value far higher than it was just a few years ago. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what levers Kosta Browne pulls to achieve its growth plans. The wines remain reliably delicious in an unfussy, mainstream style that is sure to find considerable appeal. The waiting list is still very long, so readers who see these Pinots will want to snap them up.

Since I last visited Kosta-Browne last year, the operation has fully settled into a massive new facility in The Barlow, a gastronomic nirvana in Sebastopol of restaurants, food stores, wineries, winery tasting rooms, a brewery, a distillery and coffee roaster.They're all destinations in their own right but an absolute must-visit in such concentration.Since last spring, Kosta-Browne has purchased a 20-acre section of the Keefer vineyard, which is one of their long-time sources for pinot.They have also secured a lease for the 37-acre Gap's Crown vineyard, another historic source for fruit here and fully owned by K-B investor Bill Price.In addition, there's a new bottling of pinot coming on line with the 2012 vintage, from the sustainably farmed Giusti vineyard in the Russian River Valley.