VINEYARD Boudreaux, Quail Hill and Zio Tony
FERMENTATION 100% barrel fermented
OAK 46% New French Oak
ALCOHOL 14.6%
pH 3.33
TA 6.4 g/L
BOTTLING DATE February 9-10, 2011
AROMA
Green apple, Asian pear, orange blossom, lychee, custard, and white citrus notes.
PALATE
Our One-Sixteen Chardonnay exhibits lush tropical and citrus flavors, including honeysuckle, apple, tangerine zest, and crème brulee. In the mouth it is vibrant, revealing Asian pear, light citrus, wet stone minerality, and lively acidity leading to a long full mouth finish.
Kosta Browne’s first Chardonnay, One-Sixteen is named after the Gravenstein Highway 116 which cuts through the town of Sebastopol and defines the border of Green Valley, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Mecca in the Russian River Valley. The 2009 vintage is sourced from Martinelli’s Zio Tony Vineyard, which is located along this highway and in the heart of the Russian River Valley appellation. The site has a superb micro-climate, offering just the right amount of warmth during the day and very cool nights, which leads to intensely focused wine with strong natural acidity.
THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY IS hallowed ground for lovers of great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Here, the vines are submersed in clockwork fog and daytime temperature swings, which preserve the natural acidity essential to elegant, age-worthy wines. We work with a handful of the most beloved vineyards from this remarkable wine region considered by many to be the heartland of California Pinot Noir.
Within Russian River Valley, in a town tucked away from the main roads, you’ll find a community ranging from writer to artisan. The town of Graton is an area where local winemakers and growers take a respite and enjoy some of the many popular yet under-the-radar restaurants. During harvest, the little town is full of life and bustling.
