One of the famed California producers of Pinot Noir, Kosta Browne began with Dan Kosta and Michael Browne who started out working at a local restaurant in 1997. Short on funds, Michael developed relationships with key growers in Northern California, while Dan, along with the help of a third partner, Chris Costello, worked to market and sell the wines. In 2011 Kosta Browne jumped on the world stage as they were named Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year with their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
I’ve loved these wines over the years and the new outstanding releases come from the highly challenging 2020 vintage. These are clean wines without any smoke impact. Take your time with the complex and delicious 2020 Kosta Browne ‘One-Sixteen’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which shows a soft texture and really good range. Even better is the terroir-driven 2020 Kosta Browne ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has plenty of salty red fruits with stony undercurrents. All Pinots are $115.00 SRP. Learn more about this outstanding winery at kostabrowne.com and here are my reviews of the new Kosta Browne wines.
2020 Kosta Browne ‘One-Sixteen’ Chardonnay- Winemaker Julien Howsepian has sourced this wine from a range of famed Russian River sites including the Ritchie and Keefer Ranch Vineyards. Nectarine and green apple notes combine with baking spice dusted sourdough bread on the nose. The palate is ripe and plump with a seamless texture and wonderful length. The lingering mineral and brioche laced finish really entices, as this beautiful wine is drinking marvelously now and will continue to do so over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2020 Kosta Browne ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from mainly the Gap’s Crown Vineyard, this delicious new Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was stored for fifteen months in 34% new French oak before bottling. Salted red fruits and kumquat zest combine with toasty oak tones on the palate. Finishing very long, this is delicious, beautifully-textured Pinot Noir that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2020 Kosta Browne ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2020 Kosta Browne ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new bottling that was stored in 32% new French oak for fifteen months before bottling. Sassafras and cola tones mingle well with cran-cherry and cloves on the nose. The palate is very refined and seamless with generous weight and a silky texture. Finishing very long, this gorgeous new bottling will satisfy over the next ten years or more. Drink 2022-2034- 94
2020 Kosta Browne ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir- Harvest for this Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir came two weeks earlier than normal as this was aged in a small part American oak and 47% new French oak prior to bottling. Once on the mouth, the soft texture entices. Salty cran-raspberry and loganberry tones combine with citrus zest, and diatomaceous earth undertones on the palate. This is very elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir that is best consumed over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2033- 94
2020 Kosta Browne ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2020 Kosta Browne ‘Anderson Valley’ Pinot Noir spent fifteen months in 38% new French oak before bottling, as this is the first year this wine has been sourced from The Narrows and Confluence Vineyards. The wine is soft and generous with plenty of peat moss and forest floor tones on the palate, with huckleberry and black cherry compote. Gorgeous to consume now, enjoy over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2034- 94