From the NY Daily News:

A California Pinot Noir produced by a small Sonoma winery that doesn’t own a single vine has been named Wine Spectator magazine’s Wine of the Year.

The Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009 was chosen from among 16,000 wines reviewed in blind tastings this year. Wines were judged on quality, value, availability and an X-factor the editors call "excitement."

The 2009 Sonoma Coast -- which got top marks for its score and reasonable price -- is a blend of grapes from three vineyards found in the southern part of the Sonoma Coast and the northwestern reaches near Annapolis.

Meanwhile, part of the winery’s appeal, add the magazine’s editors, is the history behind the Kosta Browne winery, which began with two ambitious servers who pooled their tip money together to make their winemaking dreams come to fruition.

For more, see: Wine of the year is California Pinot Noir; Wine Spectator dubs Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2009 tops