Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A delightful nose of yellow grapefruit, jasmine and sweet chamomile. Full-bodied with racy acidity and mineral character. Bright and rounded fruit with sweet herbs and white flowers. So lovely and layered with fine precision and balance. Fresh, exciting and totally delicious.
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The Somm Journal
A striking cut-glass quality defines this angular and star-bright white. Both the Montrachet and Robert Young clones influence the demeanor of the wine, 52% of which aged for 11 months in foudres before going into 60-gallon French oak barrels. Its richness, marked by plush notes of Dutch apple pie, is contrasted by its pointed minerality and a thread of pineapple and salted lime
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Wine & Spirits
Julien Howsepian makes this wine from a vineyard planted in 2008 by UIises Valdez, on a ridge above East Side Road. The densely planted vines created concentrated fruit, which he fermented and aged in a combination of foudres and barrels. When you open the bottle, the wine is explosive in its refreshing energy and bright whitecherry flavors. The texture is silken and, as the flavors open, they develop complexities and details of heirloom fruit—one taster described a highlight of “Montmorency, oldfashioned sour cherries.”
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Wine Spectator
Fresh acidity supports a crisp mix of white fruit and spice flavors that show a savory snap. Wet stone and dried sage accents linger on the finish, which lingers with juicy richness.
Founded in 1997, Kosta Browne is one of North America’s most revered wineries, recognized for making some of the world’s finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Located in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, and guided by an acclaimed team that includes renowned Winemaker Julien Howsepian, Kosta Browne makes appellation and single-vineyard wines from the most coveted cool-climate vineyards across the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Lucia Highlands appellations. In addition to partnering with the finest growers in California, Kosta Browne has an estate program that features 170 acres of vineyards through ownership or long-term leases that includes the Cerise Vineyard in Anderson Valley, Keefer Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, and a prized section of the Gap’s Crown Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. Kosta Browne has earned a place on Wine Spectator’s annual list of the world’s “Top 100 Wines” seven times since 2005, including “Wine of the Year” in 2011.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.