2016 Kosta Browne "Observations" Sta. Rita Hills Horizontal

“The 2016 Chardonnay El Diablo Observations Series was aged 17 months in 15% new French and 33% new Austrian oak. It opens minerally with petrichor, saline, white peaches and apricot plus hints of lime pith, honey, toast, grated nutmeg and dried white flowers. It's light to medium-bodied and spritely in the mouth, with mineral and citrus dancing across savory layers, opposed by juicy acidity and finishing long and textured. (EB)” (02/2020)

“A wine that’s not released through the mailing list or distribution (it’s a cellar door release only), the 2016 Pinot Noir Mount Carmel comes from a beautiful site in the Sta. Rita Hills. Seeing 30% stems and 50% new oak, it’s a serious, powerful wine that has loads of crème de cassis, toasted spice, dried earth like minerality, and subtle new wood. This full-bodied effort has a deep, velvety texture, ripe tannin, and a big finish.” (06/2018)

“The winery's Observations series focuses on unique blocks, and the history and setting of Mt. Carmel, planted by renegade nuns atop the Sta. Rita Hills, makes for a compelling showcase. This bottling starts with aromas of cranberry, pomegranate paste and sandalwood, leading into an earthy palate that's dense with black raspberry and carnation. The fine-tuned structure is most promising. *Cellar Selection* (MK)” (05/2020)

“The 2016 Pinot Noir Mt. Carmel Observations Series aged 16 months in 51% new French and 20% new Hungarian oak. Medium ruby, it has a wonderful perfume of cinnamon toast, saline, dried lilac, violet and garrigue with touches of white pepper, eucalyptus leaf, wild blackberries and loads of pure red berry fruits at the core. Light to medium-bodied, it's silky and intense with perfumed fruits and a pleasantly firm frame of very finely grained tannins, lifted by mouthwatering acidity and finishing long and layered. Yes! (EB)” (02/2020)