So, I’m on Facebook one day and I happen to see that one of my favorite wineries and winemakers is making a sparkling wine that I don’t even know exists. Naturally I go about procuring a bottle, and I’m so happy that I did. It’s a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from vineyards that James Hall is very familiar with, and it wasn’t disgorged until May 2015. It’s long on spiced green apple and yeasty aromas, and shows a fine mousse in the glass. On the palate, it’s dry and stony and adds some pear and lemon flavors to the apple and yeast character, with crisp scouring acidity that cleanses the palate while leaving bright apple and lemon flavors. Definitely a bubbly worth seeking out.
Patz & Hall, North Coast (California) 2012
By Rich Cook