Kosta Browne Chardonnay at The Cellar Wine Bistro Lafayette

Kosta Browne Chardonnay at The Cellar Wine Bistro Lafayette

Traveling to Linda’s hometown to visit family, and for a wake and funeral of a departed dear lifelong friend, we stayed and dined in the nearest city, Lafayette, Indiana. 

At the end of a long week of travel and events, we sought and found a delightful relaxing venue for a late night small bites dinner with fine wine for a perfect much needed decompression and wind-down. 

The Cellar Wine Bistro in Lafayette (IN) offers a broad imaginative selection of fine wines to accompany and pair with menu of small plates, cheese, charcuterie, specialties and desserts. There is a small selection of Wines By the Glass (WBTG), as well as the full bottle wine list. 

The bistro shares its space with Réveille Coffee Bar, which operates during the day

Cellar Wine Bistro is owned operated by two sisters Michelle and Marla. Michelle, spent time in California and brings back home to Indiana the Santa Barbara wine scene culture. They are assisted by Kat who applies her 20+ years experience in the food and beverage industry, and Purdue degree in Food & Nutrition to prepare the dining menu offerings, focusing on seasonal fare and collaborating with local producers and farmers.

https://cellar422wines.com/

We ordered a cheese plate with fruits and bread, the focaccio bread plate, olives, and the special of New Zealand Green Lipped mussels served baked on the half shell with escargot butter.

 

For a wine accompaniment I selected the finest ultra-premium label available on the winelist. 

Kosta Brown “116” Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2021 

This wine is from producers Dan Kosta and Michael Browne who produce a portfolio of ultra-premium Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. 

Kosta Browne Winery in Sebastopol, California, has gained fame and acclaim for its highly sought-after Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with wines sourced from leading vineyards in California (Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Santa Lucia Highlands) and Oregon's Willamette Valley, plus Burgundy, France. 

Since founding in 1997, Kosta Browne has become synonymous with crafting some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in California.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2011/05/grand-tour-chicago-wine-tasting.html

We first met Dan Kosta and tasted their wines at the Wine Spectator Grand Tour in Chicago in 2011 (shown with the author below), which we featured in these pages in this blogpost - Grand Tour Chicago - Wine Tasting Extravaganza.

Founders Dan Kosta and Michael Browne met when they worked together at a restaurant in Sonoma County. To pursue their love of wine, they pooled their limited resources to buy their first grapes. Michael built relationships with Northern California’s premier growers, while Dan, with support from third partner Chris Costello, focused on marketing and selling their wine.

Kosta Browne Winery was founded in 1997 with the ambition to create world class wines. In 2009, they were awarded Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year for their 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

They source from highly acclaimed vineyards & growers spanning the Sonoma Coast, the Russian River Valley, the cool Santa Lucia Highlands, the coastal Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma County Anderson Valley, and the hallowed terroirs of Burgundy, France. 

Today, Kosta Browne wines are crafted under the leadership of Head Winemaker Julien Howsepian. In 2019, rising star Julien Howsepian was named just the third winemaker in Kosta Browne’s history at the age of 34 building on the winemaking foundation established by Co-founder Michael Browne.

Julien helped expand the Kosta Browne portfolio to Oregon’s majestic Willamette Valley and the legendary vineyards of Gevrey-Chambertin, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay and Meursault in Burgundy, France.

A first-generation American, Julien was born to a French father and a Dutch mother who inspired in him appreciation for wine. Raised in Northern California’s Bay Area, Julien regularly traveled to France to visit family, including relatives in the wine industry. He studied at UC Davis, where he earned a degree in viticulture and enology. Prior to joining Kosta Browne, Julien gained hands-on experience at several notable California estates and in New Zealand’s acclaimed Hawkes Bay region.

Julien joined Kosta Browne in 2012 and quickly established himself as an invaluable member of the team with an innovative, detail-oriented approach to winemaking and a love of blending. Working alongside Michael Browne, Julien progressed from production assistant to cellar master to assistant winemaker, and winemaker in 2019. In 2025, he was honored as one of “the best young leaders” in the wine industry when he was named one of the Beverage Information Group’s “40 Under 40.”

The Kosta Browne portfolio consists of more than a dozen single vineyard designated ultra-premium Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and the “Appellation Series”, a collections of blends from each of the appellations where they source grapes from leading grower vineyards. 

Kosta Browne “One Sixteen” Russian River Valley Chardonnay  2021 

The Kosta Browne One Sixteen Chardonnay is named after the Gravenstein Highway 116 which cuts through the town of Sebastopol, and showcases the character of the Green Valley sub-appellation in the Russian River Valley.

The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is defined by its maritime climate with cool ocean fog that funnels inland through the Russian River corridor, moderating temperatures and creating ideal conditions for slow, even Chardonnay ripening. The extended growing season promotes complexity, crisp acidity, and expressive aromatics.

The 2021 One Sixteen Chardonnay draws fruit from eight outstanding vineyards, including Ritchie, Heintz, and Keefer Ranch, situated in the coolest reaches of the AVA. These sites benefit from sandy Goldridge soils and consistent fog cover, allowing the grapes to develop nuanced flavors without overripening. 

The others, Winner’s Circle, Zio Tony Ranch, Lone Oak, Bootlegger’s Hill and El Diablo Vineyards round out the blend. 

The clonal diversity is Wente, Mt. Eden, Dijon 95 and 548, and Clone 4, which contributes to layered textures and aromatic complexity.

Winemaker Notes: “The collection of famous Chardonnay vineyards that we work with along the famous Route 116, are in the coolest and most sought after areas of the Russian River Valley. Individual pressed lots were fermented in barrel or foudres, all 100% native primary and malolactic fermentations, which adds depth and complexity to the finished wine. With brilliant clarity and a bouquet of green apple, pear, and persimmon aromas, this radiant Chardonnay makes a stunning first impression. The palate strikes a lovely balance between round texture and bright acidity, with succulent orchard fruit flavors and a kiss of French oak that evolve into a long, shimmering finish.95 points James Suckling - "Expressive aromas of preserved lemons, lime zest, flint and river stones. The palate is medium-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy texture, giving notes of orchard fruit, grapefruit, yellow apples and pastry. A good balance of power and finesse."

Fermentation was conducted in a mix of 83% French oak barrels and 17% large foudres. The wine aged for 14 months, including 30% in new French oak, 4% in new Austrian oak, and 20% in wood cask. Prior to bottling, 66% of the blend was transferred to stainless steel for 6 months, polishing the texture and brightening acidity.

3700 cases were produced.

This release was awarded 92 points by Wine Spectator. 

Golden straw colored with subtle green hues, medium full bodied, rich, round harmonious well balanced and polished, bright vibrant flavors of mango, green apple and honeysuckle hints of peach and pineapple are accented by notes of toasted brioche, oak and baking spices with lively acidity on a delicious creamy lingering finish. 

RM 94 points. 

I enjoyed this One Sixteen Chardonnay so much, when we got home, I immediately went and picked up some more at Binny’s, our local big box beverage center. 

https://kostabrowne.com/

We met and talked with Kat about her preparations and presentations and she alerted us to her incredible cheesecake which we enjoyed with a tawny port aperitif for a fitting finish to a delightful outing. 

The George Tavern Naperville Replay

The George Tavern Naperville Replay

We loved the atmosphere and vibe of The George Tavern in Naperville so much, the other day, that we returned for late lunch, casual small bites and wine. 

As featured in an earlier blogpost of our visit, The George American Tavern, Naperville, we sat in the tony, chic, comfortable, cozy Pontiac Lounge. 

We wanted to treat, and share the experience with sister Jan, visiting from SoCal. 

We ordered the BRÛLÉE FRENCH ONION soup, 12-hr onions, gruyére in rich beef broth, and the THAI CURRY MUSSELS, coconut broth, red curry, lemongrass, ginger, cilantro, lime, with charred bread. Both were delicious. The creative Thai Curry Mussels exceeded our expectations and were especially good.  

As I wrote in that blogpost of our recent visit, The George American Tavern, Naperville, excerpted below, The George is named for several historic Napervillians, all named George. As we left the restaurant and walked down the street, we revisited the historic mural painting and marker plaque affixed to the adjacent building, outside neighboring Sullivan’s Steakhouse, at the opposite end of the block. These have new significance now, given the history of the site, and the memorializing of the earlier Georges, proprietors, citizens and patrons that frequented there, namesakes for The George.  

The mural shows Judge George Knoch, and the plaque memorializes George Laird and the Preemption Inn & Tavern that stood on the site, nearly two centuries earlier. 

Like our earlier visit, we tasted the Russian River Valley Chardonnay, this time from bottle, which was an ideal pairing with the soup and mussels. 

Davis Bynum River West, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay 2022

The Davis Bynum estate and River West Vineyard, is located on Westside Road on a low riverside bench in the far northern end of the valley. 

Initially they combined grapes from Napa with local Russian River Valley fruit, until they sold the Napa property in 1976. Their first Pinot Noir, the 1973 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir was sourced from the Rochioli Vineyard and was the first Pinot to carry a Russian River designation.

Today, Davis Bynum Winery produces about 15,000 cases of wine annually under the Davis Bynum label. While Davis oversees the vineyards and business, winemaking in managed by winemaker/producer Gary Farrell and Bynum winemaker is Greg Morthole. Bynum’s son, Hampton, manages daily operations, sales, and assists with winemaking and production.

Davis Bynum crafts wines that showcase the estate with its Yolo sandy-silt loam soil with a pocket of gravelly Cortina soil in one block, and near coastal moderated climate cool foggy climate.

This is the entry level, basic Chardonnay, part of the broader Bynum portfolio of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir labels. It offers good QPR (quality price ratio) for every day casual sipping and enjoyment, ideal for a WBTG (wine-by-the-glass) selection. 

It was rated 90 points by Wine Spectator

Winemaker’s tasting notes - Aromas of lemon curd, apple pie and graham cracker, along with flavors of baked golden apple, pie crust and a sweet floral undertone. French and Eastern European barrel aging brings a measure of dusty oak tones and notes of butterscotch, tempered by a balanced acidity. 

Light straw colored, light medium bodied, crisp, nicely balanced, zesty green apple, pear, citrus and notes of pineapple with floral, vanilla, stone fruit, toasted almond and mineral notes on a bright lingering finish.

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4865246

https://www.davisbynum.com/

https://www.georgenaperville.com/

Chateau St Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling 2017

Chateau St Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling 2017

Sunday night dinner at Angeli's Italian, our favorite neighborhood trattoria, we drank from the winelist this Chateau St Michelle Riesling. We were looking for something simpler and lighter and thought a Riesling would be appropriate. Wrong, this is was not indicated on the winelist as Sweet Riesling which turned out to be quite sweet and much fuller and heavy than a light crisp dry Kabinett style.

Part of our selection was based on the whimsical naming as we were dining with son Sean and daughter-in-law to be, Michelle. Also, we visited the Chateau St Michelle estate in Woodinville during our Seattle Culinary and Washington Wine Tour last year. 

Lastly, I seem to recall that Chateau St Michelle are one of the world's largest producers of Riesling, which may have lead to the naming confusion or lack of precision in labeling this wine (on the winelist) due a preponderance of Riesling selections from this producer.

In any event, it was a suitable and fitting selection for the seafood pasta entree selections and Angeli's delicious Mussels in white wine sauce, the best ever and a favorite selection and regular pick when dining there. But, the sweet riesling is a selection we would not do again next time.

Chateau St Michelle Harvest Select Sweet Riesling 2017

As noted above, not crisp and clean, refreshing and balanced that you might desire but then this is a moderate pricepoint, high acid, high sweetness medium full bodied, notes of peach, citrus, and apple.

The winemaker notes say "Our Harvest Select Riesling is made in a slightly sweeter style than our Columbia Valley Riesling but still shows the classic Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling character. It offers rich flavors of ripe peaches balanced with crisp Washington Riesling acidity." Notably, they call it Harvest Select Riesling (as listed on the winelist) and omit the word 'Sweet' even though the label says so. 

RM 86 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3181855

https://www.ste-michelle.com/