Winemaker Notes
#69 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
#5 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020
This perfect introduction to Paula Kornell’s sparkling wines has all the elegance, refinement,and freshness that one would expect from the best bubbles. Its racy acidity makes the wine lively and refreshing, while the small amount of residual sugar gives the wine weight and depth alongside the aromas of lemon pith, fresh peaches, just-ripe apricots, toast, acacia, and honeysuckle. The California Brut noirs pairs easily with a friends and family, but also with many foods. Its racy acidity makes the wine lively and refreshing, while a subtle touch of sweetness gives it a touch of weight and depth
Blend: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This inaugural release is stunning and incredibly impressive—a wine well worth stocking up on for the price and quality. A beautiful jasmine aroma leads to marzipan, peach and cherry flavors as lively acidity envelopes the palate. It’s a blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.
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Tasting Panel
This sunny Champagne-method blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir is effervescent in more than just than literal sense of the word. Scents of mashed apple, white cherry, yellow peach, and grilled lemon plus a smidgen of blanched almond influence the suave mouthfeel, lifted by a note of orange peel.
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James Suckling
A fresh, fruity bubbly with crisp apple and white peach flavors on a lively texture of fine bubbles. Just a hint of sweetness to round out the appetizing clean fruit character.
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and lively, with pretty apple, strawberry and spiced nut flavors that linger on the bright finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
California enjoys a long history and proven reputation as an admirable source of sparkling wines. Agoston Haraszthy, who established Buena Vista Winery in the mid 1850s, first attempted to make traditional method sparkling wine in California in the 1870s. Shortly thereafter Korbel followed, and with great success. Today domestic producers such as Schramsberg, Iron Horse and J. Wine Co remain at the forefront of the market.
Since the 1970s the state has consistently attracted the attention and investment of large and respected European and French-based firms who are responsible for Domaine Chandon, Mumm-Napa Valley, Roederer Estate and Domaine Carneros (Taittinger), to name a few. Anderson Valley and Carneros remain standout regions for top quality Pinot noir and Chardonnay for these.