Winemaker Notes
Rose petal and crème brûlée with hints of cantaloupe skin and coconut nibs. An expansive and rich mouthfeel with favors of pear and notes of peach crisp. Precise and tactile.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A beautiful Chardonnay from the Alexander Valley brought up in 34% new French oak, the 2017 Chardonnay One Sixteen Russian River Valley sports a medium gold color as well as a rich, powerful bouquet of caramelized citrus, white currants, toasted hazelnuts, and brioche. Deep, rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has flawless balance, bright acidity, and is a profound Chardonnay that will stand beside the finest white Burgundies.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: I don't remember when I last enjoyed a Chardonnay as much as I did the 2017 Kosta Browne One Sixteen. TASTING NOTES: This wine is balanced, yet it is massively elegant. Its aromas and flavors of racy peach fuzz, oak accents, and a touch of chalk should pair it beautifully with a flavorful Coq au Vin. (Tasted: July 10, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
From a blend of sites in the appellation, including Keefer, Zio Tony and Ritchie, this is a bright, salty and broadly expansive white that's gorgeously aromatic in wet earth and rose petal. The flavors are fruity in peach and pear, with a richness that is honed by the complementary acidity.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay One Sixteen aged from four to 15 months in several vessels: 34% new French oak, 30% stainless, 18% foudres, 3% concrete eggs and 1% concrete tanks. It opens with aromas of roasted almonds, toast, white peach, gunflint and dried chamomile with touches of lemon pith. The palate is light to medium-bodied with toasty fruits, well-woven but refreshing acidity and a long, savory finish. This is a touch rounder and more open than its 2016 counterpart. 3,400 cases produced.
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.