Paula Kornell 2020 Sparkling Blanc de Noirs, Napa Valley ($55) White fruit and red—pear, white currant, strawberry—intertwine with notes of toast and preserved lemon throughout this vivacious blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, which parlays its crisp mousse into a supple mouthfeel accented by a slight touch of sweet spice on the finish. 94
Paula Kornell 2020 Blanc de Blancs, Napa Valley ($75) Sometimes polish comes at the expense of complexity—but not in this case. On the nose, hints of orange melon and fresh linen add intrigue to golden apple and pear, preserved lemon, baguette, and honeysuckle, while on the silken palate, acidity sways like a dancer around additional notes of white peach and crème fraîche before a long finish that lightly suggests lemongrass and bitter almond. Lovely. 95
ABOUT PAULA KORNeLL SPARKLING WINES
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is the namesake brand of one of Napa Valley’s leading women in wine, who has lived and breathed this premier wine-growing region all her life. With a portfolio of sparkling wines that draw on California’s past while attracting contemporary lovers of Champagne and bubbles, Paula builds on the legacy of her family’s winery, Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars, a pioneer of méthode champenoise in Napa Valley.
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine crafts wines that are stylish, sophisticated and engaging, and—importantly for Paula—food-friendly. Designed to be enjoyed with friends and family, raise a toast to California’s history and the rich pleasure of Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine.