Dec 30, 2022
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Cosa Obra Wines
| Owner(s) | Gregory Hayes |
| Web site | www.cosaobra.com |
| Link to this site |
Sometimes a pleasant surprise shows up unannounced in my wine locker. This was the case with Cosa Obra Pinot Noir, from a producer I had not known about.
The name Cosa (“thing”) Obra “a hand-crafted body of work”) refers to the winery’s thing, what they do, their hand-crafted body of work. Owner Gregory Hayes has over two decades of experience in the wine industry who has chosen to produce small amounts of exceptional wines from unique terroirs.
The consulting winemaker is Kent Humphrey (Eric Kent Wines). The winery offers a Pinot Noir sourced from the best blocks of vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Bennett Valley regions.
A Proprietary Red Blend and a Sauvignon Blanc are also offered.
The wines are sold through a mailing list and the winery's online store.
Articles About Cosa Obra Wines
2014 California Value Priced Pinot Noir First Team All-Americans (10.2 12/22/2014)
2015 California Pinot Noir Value Priced Honorable Mention All-Americans (10.23 12/27/2015)
Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (11.24 6/9/2018)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir (10.32 6/18/2016)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir, Rosé & Chardonnay (10.8 4/20/2015)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Wines (11.5 6/25/2017)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Wines (9.39 3/29/2014)
Sips of Recently Tasted Sonoma County Pinot Noir (10.31 6/5/2016)
Reviewed Wines
2017 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $18.
·
Moderate salmon color
in the glass. Attractive aromas of white peach, strawberry, white flower and bark. Sleek and
slightly creamy in the mouth, with satisfying flavors of blood orange, wild strawberry and
watermelon with a thread of oak in the background. Bright acidity makes for refreshing drinking.
Score: 89.
Reviewed June 9, 2018
ARTICLE »
2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Los Carneros Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.09, TA 0.88, $18.
Sourced from Sangiacomo Southern Sonoma Vineyard, first planted in 1974. 100% Pommard. Produced by
the saignée method.
·
Moderate salmon color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of golden apple, strawberry
and lychee. More expressive in the mouth with noticeable richness and intensity, offering flavors of nectarine
and blood orange, finishing dry and slightly tart with a charge of pink grapefruit.
Score: 88.
Reviewed June 4, 2017
2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $32.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass.
Revealing aromas of black cherry, earthy flora and burnt tobacco. A wine with modest intentions, featuring mid
weight flavors of black cherry, darkest strawberry, cola, tobacco and toast. Easygoing tannins make for
comforting drinking, but the toasty oak is too pervasive for full enjoyment.
Score: 88.
Reviewed June 9, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Founder’s Reserve Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $N/A. Aged in 60% new
French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose starts out with fresh black cherry fruit
aromas, but transitions to musty, stewed fruit aromas. Full-bodied, ultra ripe and somewhat sweet flavors of
black cherry, blackberry, and cassis. The wine leans heavily on oak although the prodigious fruit can hold up to
it.
Score: 89.
Reviewed June 9, 2018
ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.44, TA 0.64, $18.100%
Pommard clone from Sangiacomo Vineyard in Los Carneros. A saignée, fermented in neutral oak
barrels.
·
Moderate pinkish orange color in the glass. A well composed wine with aromas of orange
water, cranberry and dried herbs. Flavorful, with tastes of blood orange, strawberry, watermelon and
herbs in a seamless style with integrated, bright acidity and trace tannins. The juicy finish has some
length which is unusual for a rosé.
Score: 89.
Reviewed June 5, 2015
ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., cases, pH 3.44, TA 0.64, 96
cases, $18. Sourced from the Sangiacomo Southern Sonoma Vineyard first planted in 1974. 100%
Pommard clone. Crafted by the saignée method and fermented in neutral barrels.
·
Moderate pinkish
orange color in the glass. Aromas of cranberry, orange water and dried herbs lead to a richly flavored
core of blood orange, strawberry and watermelon fruits. Nicely composed, with integrated acidity and
a very juicy finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed June 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $18.
·
Moderate pinkish orange color
in the glass. Pleasing aromas of orange rind, peach and white flowers. Noticeable attack and
intensity of strawberry, red cranberry and orange peel flavors. Bright acidity, with a mouthwatering
finish replete with Mandarin orange and white pepper flavors.
Score: 91.
Reviewed June 25, 2017
ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.,
$32. Release October 1, 2017.
·
Moderate garnet color in the
glass. The nose opens slowly over time revealing aromas of
dark cherry, spice, fertile earth and mesquite. Mid weight plus
flavors of black cherry, blueberry-pomegranate and cherry
cola are embellished with toasty oak in the background. Wellrounded,
integrated tannins and texturally appealing with a
soft and sleek mouthfeel. The wine leans a little too much on oak for my
personal taste, but those who favor oak-embossed Pinot Noir will love
this wine.
Score: 91.
Reviewed June 25, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.49, TA 0.70, 101 cases, $18. Sourced from
Sangiacomo Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros. 100% Pommard.
This is a saignée, fermented in neutral barrels.
·
Moderate
salmon color in the glass. Generous aromas of fresh
strawberry, cherry and garden bouquet. Soft and smooth on
the palate, with a tasty array of fruit flavors including
strawberry, watermelon and peach. Very satisfying, with perfect balance,
and an uplifting, vibrant finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed April 20, 2015
ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc.,
pH 3.70, TA 0.58, $28. Sourced from several artisan vineyards
in the Russian River Valley and Carneros. De-stemmed whole
berries were fermented in tank after a 5 to 7-day cold soak.
Delestage and pumpovers managed the cap. Extended
maceration of 3 to 4 weeks followed by 12 months aging in
French oak barrels, 30% new.
·
Moderately light reddish purple
color in the glass. Complex aromas and flavors of ripe Bing cherry,
blackberry, cola, tobacco and forest path. Discreetly concentrated with
balancing acidity and tannins and a seductively silky mouthfeel. A
forward-drinking and enticing wine with commendable value.
Score: 90.
Reviewed June 18, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2%
alc., pH 3.9, TA 0.54, $29. Fruit sourcedfrom
Sangiacomo Vineyard in southern Sonoma (Los
Carneros). 100% Pommard clone. 100% de-stemmed,
5 to 7-day cold soak extended maceration from 3 to 4
weeks. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 30%
new.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass.
Seductive scents of ripe Bing cherries, forest path and clove.
Forward drinking and enticing with mid weight flavors of black
cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and tobacco. The tannins are
harmoniously supportive and the silky texture is tres Pinot.
Score: 91.
Reviewed June 5, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.58, $28. Sourced from
vineyards in the Russian River Valley (44%) and Carneros (56%). Yields 2.5-4.0 tons per acre.
Whole berry fermentation, 5 to 7-day cold soak, delestage and pumpovers, extended maceration of
3 to 4 weeks. Aged 12 months in 100% French oak barrels, 30% new.
·
Moderately dark reddish
purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of crushed black cherries and spice. Good
attack and finishing intensity that is cherry-driven. Very approachable, with modest tannins, some
oak seasoning, and a slight sense of heat on the finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed April 20, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH
3.70, TA 0.53, 294 cases, $27. After rigorous hand sorting,
100% de-stemmed with whole berries to tank. A 5 to 7-day
cold soak was followed by fermentation managed with a
combination of delestage and pumpovers. Extended
maceration ranged from 3 to 4 weeks. Aged 12 months in
25% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish purple color
in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherries, raspberry coulis and spice. The
nose is literally intoxicating and persistent in volume even when sampled later in
the day from a previously opened bottle. Bright, refreshing and light on its feet,
with a delicious core of light to mid weight Bing cherry fruit accented with notes of tobacco, mocha, sassafras
and sweet oak. The combination of balance and a light touch is hard to resist in Pinot.
Score: 94.
Reviewed March 29, 2014
ARTICLE »
2017 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $18. · Moderate salmon color in the glass. Attractive aromas of white peach, strawberry, white flower and bark. Sleek and slightly creamy in the mouth, with satisfying flavors of blood orange, wild strawberry and watermelon with a thread of oak in the background. Bright acidity makes for refreshing drinking. Score: 89. Reviewed June 9, 2018 ARTICLE »
2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Los Carneros Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.09, TA 0.88, $18. Sourced from Sangiacomo Southern Sonoma Vineyard, first planted in 1974. 100% Pommard. Produced by the saignée method. · Moderate salmon color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of golden apple, strawberry and lychee. More expressive in the mouth with noticeable richness and intensity, offering flavors of nectarine and blood orange, finishing dry and slightly tart with a charge of pink grapefruit. Score: 88. Reviewed June 4, 2017
2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $32. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Revealing aromas of black cherry, earthy flora and burnt tobacco. A wine with modest intentions, featuring mid weight flavors of black cherry, darkest strawberry, cola, tobacco and toast. Easygoing tannins make for comforting drinking, but the toasty oak is too pervasive for full enjoyment. Score: 88. Reviewed June 9, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Founder’s Reserve Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $N/A. Aged in 60% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The nose starts out with fresh black cherry fruit aromas, but transitions to musty, stewed fruit aromas. Full-bodied, ultra ripe and somewhat sweet flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and cassis. The wine leans heavily on oak although the prodigious fruit can hold up to it. Score: 89. Reviewed June 9, 2018 ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.44, TA 0.64, $18.100% Pommard clone from Sangiacomo Vineyard in Los Carneros. A saignée, fermented in neutral oak barrels. · Moderate pinkish orange color in the glass. A well composed wine with aromas of orange water, cranberry and dried herbs. Flavorful, with tastes of blood orange, strawberry, watermelon and herbs in a seamless style with integrated, bright acidity and trace tannins. The juicy finish has some length which is unusual for a rosé. Score: 89. Reviewed June 5, 2015 ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., cases, pH 3.44, TA 0.64, 96 cases, $18. Sourced from the Sangiacomo Southern Sonoma Vineyard first planted in 1974. 100% Pommard clone. Crafted by the saignée method and fermented in neutral barrels. · Moderate pinkish orange color in the glass. Aromas of cranberry, orange water and dried herbs lead to a richly flavored core of blood orange, strawberry and watermelon fruits. Nicely composed, with integrated acidity and a very juicy finish. Score: 90. Reviewed June 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $18. · Moderate pinkish orange color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of orange rind, peach and white flowers. Noticeable attack and intensity of strawberry, red cranberry and orange peel flavors. Bright acidity, with a mouthwatering finish replete with Mandarin orange and white pepper flavors. Score: 91. Reviewed June 25, 2017 ARTICLE »
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $32. Release October 1, 2017. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose opens slowly over time revealing aromas of dark cherry, spice, fertile earth and mesquite. Mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, blueberry-pomegranate and cherry cola are embellished with toasty oak in the background. Wellrounded, integrated tannins and texturally appealing with a soft and sleek mouthfeel. The wine leans a little too much on oak for my personal taste, but those who favor oak-embossed Pinot Noir will love this wine. Score: 91. Reviewed June 25, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.49, TA 0.70, 101 cases, $18. Sourced from Sangiacomo Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros. 100% Pommard. This is a saignée, fermented in neutral barrels. · Moderate salmon color in the glass. Generous aromas of fresh strawberry, cherry and garden bouquet. Soft and smooth on the palate, with a tasty array of fruit flavors including strawberry, watermelon and peach. Very satisfying, with perfect balance, and an uplifting, vibrant finish. Score: 90. Reviewed April 20, 2015 ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.58, $28. Sourced from several artisan vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Carneros. De-stemmed whole berries were fermented in tank after a 5 to 7-day cold soak. Delestage and pumpovers managed the cap. Extended maceration of 3 to 4 weeks followed by 12 months aging in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Complex aromas and flavors of ripe Bing cherry, blackberry, cola, tobacco and forest path. Discreetly concentrated with balancing acidity and tannins and a seductively silky mouthfeel. A forward-drinking and enticing wine with commendable value. Score: 90. Reviewed June 18, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.9, TA 0.54, $29. Fruit sourcedfrom Sangiacomo Vineyard in southern Sonoma (Los Carneros). 100% Pommard clone. 100% de-stemmed, 5 to 7-day cold soak extended maceration from 3 to 4 weeks. Aged 9 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Seductive scents of ripe Bing cherries, forest path and clove. Forward drinking and enticing with mid weight flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and tobacco. The tannins are harmoniously supportive and the silky texture is tres Pinot. Score: 91. Reviewed June 5, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.58, $28. Sourced from vineyards in the Russian River Valley (44%) and Carneros (56%). Yields 2.5-4.0 tons per acre. Whole berry fermentation, 5 to 7-day cold soak, delestage and pumpovers, extended maceration of 3 to 4 weeks. Aged 12 months in 100% French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of crushed black cherries and spice. Good attack and finishing intensity that is cherry-driven. Very approachable, with modest tannins, some oak seasoning, and a slight sense of heat on the finish. Score: 89. Reviewed April 20, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 Cosa Obra Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.53, 294 cases, $27. After rigorous hand sorting, 100% de-stemmed with whole berries to tank. A 5 to 7-day cold soak was followed by fermentation managed with a combination of delestage and pumpovers. Extended maceration ranged from 3 to 4 weeks. Aged 12 months in 25% new French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of Bing cherries, raspberry coulis and spice. The nose is literally intoxicating and persistent in volume even when sampled later in the day from a previously opened bottle. Bright, refreshing and light on its feet, with a delicious core of light to mid weight Bing cherry fruit accented with notes of tobacco, mocha, sassafras and sweet oak. The combination of balance and a light touch is hard to resist in Pinot. Score: 94. Reviewed March 29, 2014 ARTICLE »