2016 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

Another head turner is the 2016 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard, which saw a tiny amount of stems and aging in 40% new French oak. Loads of spice, black raspberries, wild strawberries, and earthy, forest floor characteristics, medium to full body, a voluptuous, yet weightless texture, and an awesome finish all define this heavenly Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. As with all these releases from Kosta Browne, it’s going to benefit from a year or two in bottle and cruise for a decade. Winemaker Nico Cueva continues to fine tune his approach at Kosta Browne, experimenting with new vinification and aging vessels. While the wines were richer and more upfront in the past, today, they have slightly more freshness and tension while not abandoning the beautiful fruit and texture that defines California wines. As I hope these notes show, these are distinctive, singular wines up there with the crème de la crème of the region.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Kanzler is one of the more successful wines in this range, as it has more than enough depth and freshness to work with the more restrained style that is now in vogue at Kosta Browne. In this range, the Kanzler stands out for its textural depth and resonance.