Kosta Admire Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Pairs with: Slow-roasted duck breast with a tart cherry or blood orange reduction, crispy pan-seared wild salmon, a rustic wild mushroom risotto, pork loin rubbed with warm baking spices, or an elegant artisanal cheese board featuring creamy herbed chèvre and soft Brie.
Good for: Experiencing the signature, high-precision style of a California Pinot Noir legend (the co-founder of Kosta Browne) without paying triple-digit cult prices; treating yourself to a weeknight red that effortlessly bridges elegant coastal freshness with lush fruit generosity; or surprising a collector with a world-class value bottle that punches way above its price tag.
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir.
I am from: Sonoma Coast AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA (Sourced from premium, foggy, and ocean-influenced coastal vineyard parcels where cool maritime blankets keep the fruit lively).
The Story: If the name Dan Kosta sounds like absolute royalty to California wine lovers, it is because it is. Dan’s obsession with Pinot Noir began at an early age, sneaking sips from his father’s glass of classic French Burgundy around the family dinner table. That lifelong fascination eventually led him to co-found the legendary Kosta Browne Winery in 1997. Together, they went on to produce some of the most insanely sought-after, cult-status Pinot Noirs on the planet, even landing the coveted number-one spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list.
After achieving massive global success, Dan decided to return to his foundational roots in Sonoma County. He launched a new, personal chapter with Admire, a project specifically designed to strip away the corporate hype and refocus entirely on the pure, natural essentials of Pinot Noir. Partnering with trusted growers across the sprawling, rugged Sonoma Coast, Dan crafts this cuvée to capture the raw, athletic energy of his native coastal terrain. In the cellar, the fruit is treated with meticulous care—matured for 9 months in 100% French oak barrels (30% of which is new) to weave a polished, velvety structure directly into the wine while ensuring the driving, ocean-chilled purity of the vintage remains the absolute star of the show.
Why You'll Love Me: It is remarkably expressive, beautifully polished, and intensely aromatic—a classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that perfectly balances a juicy, California fruit weight with an elegant, energetic snap of cool-climate tension. In the glass, it pours a brilliant, translucent ruby red. The nose is a delightfully atmospheric and multi-dimensional playground, instantly launching into a fragrant bouquet of Bing cherries, wild strawberries, and ripe red plums, seamlessly layered with complex undertones of blood orange peel, sarsaparilla, cola spice, and a faint, comforting whisper of cedarwood smoke and forest floor.
On the palate, it delivers a gorgeous structural ride; it hits with a medium-bodied, velvety suppleness that blankets the tongue with an enticing succulence of dark cherry gelée and crushed raspberry. Yet, it remains wonderfully lifted and alive—a driving beam of racy coastal freshness cuts through the mid-palate, while exceptionally fine-grained, silky tannins and a touch of red tea lead into a long, supple, and beautifully persistent finish marked by a kiss of sweet baking spices and a clean mineral snap.
