Dec 30, 2022
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Kokomo
| Owner(s) | Josh Bartels, Erik Miller, Randy Peters |
| Web site | www.kokomowines.com |
| Link to this site |
I was first exposed to a marvelous Pinot Noir fashioned by Eric Miller of Kokomo Winery at a Newcomers Focus Tasting offered at the 2009 Pinot Days in San Francisco (2006 Kokomo Wines Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast). This was one of the better Pinot Noirs in the seminar which offered many bright new stars in the Pinot game.
Miller, a native of Kokomo, Indiana, moved to Sonoma in 1999, and took a financial planning desk job that did not appeal. He moved to wine production, first at Belvedere Winery, then Amphora Winery while studying courses from University of California at Davis. Along with his best friend and college roommate, Josh Bartels, and partner Randy Peters, a well-known winegrower, he launched Kokomo Winery in 2004 at Timber Crest Farms in Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg. The Timber Crest Estate is also home to Amphora Winery, Papapietro Perry Winery, Peterson Winery and Family Wineries Tasting Room.
The Kokoma label logo sports a coastal Cypress tree, signifying Miller’s move to the West Coast from Indiana. The focus is on Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast fruit and single-vineyard bottlings. Multiple varietal wines are produced including whites (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) and reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah). Two Pinot Noirs are offered from Peters Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA, and Windsor Oaks Vineyard in the Russian River Valley AVA.
Kokomo wines are sold online at www.kokomowines.com. The winery’s tasting room is incorporated into the winery cellar and is open daily from 11:00-4:30 at 4791 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. The phone is 707-433-0200.
Articles About Kokomo
Drinking Small Part 2 (8.27 12/14/2010)
Embarrassment of Riches: California (9.1 1/11/2012)
Pinot Noir Newcomers Focus Tasting (7.24 8/28/2009)
Pinot on the River 2010: Wilted in the Rain (8.25 11/7/2010)
Sips of Recently Tasted Pinot Noir (10.30 5/11/2016)
Reviewed Wines
2013 Kokomo Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $36.
·
Moderately light cherry red color in the
glass. The shy perfume of cherry, oak spice and dried herbs is a prelude to a light to mid weight styled wine
featuring a black cherry fruit core with toasty oak in the background. Silky on the palate, with a touch of spice
and balanced acidity. Solid but not special.
Score: 88.
Reviewed May 11, 2016
ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Windsor Oaks Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 199 cases,
$36. This 250-acre vineyard is on the warmer eastern edge of the Russian River Valley. A blend of clones 114,
777 and 667. 25% whole cluster, native Burgundian yeast fermentation. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is very shy offering demure aromas of dark cherries, rose
petal and stem. Ripe and sweet black cherry and red plum flavors with a slight roasted character. Soft
tannins, juicy acidity on the finish and well-managed oak. Plain and seemingly watered down. Even more
roasted character the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Decent.
Reviewed January 11, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Gopher Hill Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 200 cases, $38.
This vineyard is located where a former Gravenstein apple orchard stood, 10 miles from the Pacific Coast as
the crow flies. Soils are Goldridge sandy loam. Clone 2A. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderate
reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of very ripe dark red berries, spice, brier and oak caramel. Medium
weight flavors of sweet dark red cherries and berries with mushroom, green bean and citrus in the background.
Soft and elegant on the palate with supple tannins, but doesn’t deliver a lot of flavor interest. Good.
Reviewed January 11, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Peters Vineyard Winemaker’s Reserve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 300 cases, $48. Pommard clone. 25% whole
cluster, aged in French oak barrels.
·
Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the
glass. The nose is rather nondescript, offering subtle scents of black plum and
oak. Sweet, sappy and ripe dark red cherry and berry flavors with a hint of spice
and raisin. More flavor interest, nuance and persistence than the Gopher Hill
bottling. Unfolds slowly in the glass displaying admirable finesse. Even better
the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Good (+).
Reviewed January 11, 2012
ARTICLE »
2008 Kokomo Peters Vineyard Gopher Hill Block, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 160 cases, $38. Peters Vineyard was planted on Goldridge
sandy loam soil in the early 1980s by Randy Peters. This wine is sourced from
a block planted to Wädenswil clone. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Oak-kissed red fruit aromas
initially, developing more fruit intensity over time in the glass revealing scents of
cherry cobbler. A medium-weighted offering featuring a complex array of flavors
including tasty red cherries and berries, Red Vines, earth, tea and leaf. Silky
smooth with plenty of charm and delicacy. Good.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Kokomo Peters Vineyard Winemaker’s Reserve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 485 cases, $48. This wine is sourced
from a block planted to Pommard clone. 25% whole cluster. Aged in
100% French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the
glass. Toasty oak and spice-infused black cherry aromas really draw
you in. A panoply of dark red Pinot fruits coat the mouth with subtle oak,
spice and tar singing in the background. Without knowing this wine had whole
cluster when I tasted, I picked up immediately on the spice and soft mouth feel
that is characteristic of this mode of fermentation. For me, whole cluster, if
done right, adds a whole other dimension to a wine. In addition, this wine has
silky, soft tannins and complimentary acidity bringing you back for another sip.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2013 Kokomo Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $36. · Moderately light cherry red color in the glass. The shy perfume of cherry, oak spice and dried herbs is a prelude to a light to mid weight styled wine featuring a black cherry fruit core with toasty oak in the background. Silky on the palate, with a touch of spice and balanced acidity. Solid but not special. Score: 88. Reviewed May 11, 2016 ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Windsor Oaks Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 199 cases, $36. This 250-acre vineyard is on the warmer eastern edge of the Russian River Valley. A blend of clones 114, 777 and 667. 25% whole cluster, native Burgundian yeast fermentation. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is very shy offering demure aromas of dark cherries, rose petal and stem. Ripe and sweet black cherry and red plum flavors with a slight roasted character. Soft tannins, juicy acidity on the finish and well-managed oak. Plain and seemingly watered down. Even more roasted character the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Decent. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Gopher Hill Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 200 cases, $38. This vineyard is located where a former Gravenstein apple orchard stood, 10 miles from the Pacific Coast as the crow flies. Soils are Goldridge sandy loam. Clone 2A. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of very ripe dark red berries, spice, brier and oak caramel. Medium weight flavors of sweet dark red cherries and berries with mushroom, green bean and citrus in the background. Soft and elegant on the palate with supple tannins, but doesn’t deliver a lot of flavor interest. Good. Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Kokomo Winery Peters Vineyard Winemaker’s Reserve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 300 cases, $48. Pommard clone. 25% whole cluster, aged in French oak barrels. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is rather nondescript, offering subtle scents of black plum and oak. Sweet, sappy and ripe dark red cherry and berry flavors with a hint of spice and raisin. More flavor interest, nuance and persistence than the Gopher Hill bottling. Unfolds slowly in the glass displaying admirable finesse. Even better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Good (+). Reviewed January 11, 2012 ARTICLE »
2008 Kokomo Peters Vineyard Gopher Hill Block, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 160 cases, $38. Peters Vineyard was planted on Goldridge sandy loam soil in the early 1980s by Randy Peters. This wine is sourced from a block planted to Wädenswil clone. Aged in 30% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Oak-kissed red fruit aromas initially, developing more fruit intensity over time in the glass revealing scents of cherry cobbler. A medium-weighted offering featuring a complex array of flavors including tasty red cherries and berries, Red Vines, earth, tea and leaf. Silky smooth with plenty of charm and delicacy. Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Kokomo Peters Vineyard Winemaker’s Reserve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 485 cases, $48. This wine is sourced from a block planted to Pommard clone. 25% whole cluster. Aged in 100% French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Toasty oak and spice-infused black cherry aromas really draw you in. A panoply of dark red Pinot fruits coat the mouth with subtle oak, spice and tar singing in the background. Without knowing this wine had whole cluster when I tasted, I picked up immediately on the spice and soft mouth feel that is characteristic of this mode of fermentation. For me, whole cluster, if done right, adds a whole other dimension to a wine. In addition, this wine has silky, soft tannins and complimentary acidity bringing you back for another sip. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »