Paula Kornell Blanc de Noir 2017
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The approachable, quietly generous nose enjoys aromas of crisp green apples, lemon zest, succulent pears, tender peaches, freshly baked pastry, and brioche. Almost solely made from Pinot Noir, there’s a small dosage, which adds weight and depth to the palate, balanced by zesty acidity that lingers on a fresh, drying, and persistent finish. This is a wine with finesse and light, subtle delicacy.
This gorgeous wine is for the table, to be shared and enjoyed with food and friends as a celebration of life.
Blend: 98% Pinot Noir, 2% Chardonnay
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Wine Enthusiast
Paula Kornell honors her family's longtime roots in California sparkling wine with this tremendously delicious blend of 98% Pinot Noir and 2% Chardonnay. Bright, bursting acidity gives it enduring lift in the glass, highlighted by Meyer lemon, wet stone and sea breeze. This is a standout sparkler with length and complexity.
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Tasting Panel
Paula hails from a family of sparkling winemakers, so it’s no surprise that her first effort is quite masterful. Pale pink hue; dry with ripe berry flavors elevated by pure, crisp acidity and muscular bubbles; long, balanced, and truly impressive.
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Wine Spectator
A handsome bubbly, with polish and a vibrant structure, offering strawberry and citrus flavors, accented by blanched nut and yeasty spice notes. Drink now.
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Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.