Easily one of my biggest explanations and hardest sells to alleged wine people, even more so than J.Lohr wildflower valdiguie or Santa Cruz mountain Cab. People see Korbel–even people who are supposed to know about wine–people see Korbel and they just go instantly to the dark side because they are shallow. Trust me, I’m well aware of the crimes committed against the wine community by Korbel extra dry and brut and everything else but that is not this. This is Korbel Natural, made exactly the same way since 1882 and this is nearly the end of my 2014’s so I’m very sad because these are just ridiculously good wines. Later vintages show increased signes of dosage, but these 2014’s are just SINGING. All the crazy toasted almond yeasty brilliance top vintage Champagnes show with age, dolled out in careful quantities of acid and fruit and *perceived sweetness*. And inexpensive! Don’t let a brand rule your criticism. Get these and try them. You’ll be blown away. They run anywhere from 50/50 chard to 100% Pinot and are AVA-designate and methode and vintage. WHERE are you going to find that for 15 bucks??!?

2014 KORBEL ‘Natural’ Russian River Valley Sonoma County 70/30 PN/CH 3-4 g/l 12.5