2010 Kosta Browne Chardonnay One Sixteen

The 2010 Chardonnay One Sixteen is a new wine from Kosta Browne, here in its second vintage. Made in a distinctly Burgundian style, the wine reveals an expressive bouquet along with hints of lemon, white flowers, spices and French oak. There is a slight element of disjointedness, but Kosta Browne is onto something with this wine, and it is only a matter of time before the elements come together with even greater harmony. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. Kosta Browne is one of the great American success stories of the last decade. The story begins when longtime friends Dan Kosta and Michael Browne discover a shared passion for Pinot Noir while working together at a local restaurant. They start with a tiny amount of homemade Pinot Noir, grow gradually, acquire some financing along the way, work their tails off and one day the mailing list requires a five year wait for the vineyard designated wines. Of course I am simplifying, but Kosta Browne is the type of entrepreneurial success that can only happen in this country. Over the years, as the winemaking approach has developed, the wines have become much more finessed than they used to be. Toast levels have come down. Some lots are fermented in open top wood vats, an approach that seems promising based on the wines I tasted. A number of the wines were fermented with whole clusters, as noted below. The Kosta-Browne Pinots are notable for their exuberant fruit. The wines are incredibly attractive when young, which is when I prefer to drink them. Tel. (707) 823-7430