Cruse Wine Co. Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Pétillant Naturel Valdiguié NV

Ely Cohn

If you can find one of the 962 bottles made of this terrific sparkling valdigue, do what I did and taste alongside Cruse’s still red valdigue. It’s the best way to gain some perspective on this wonderful under the radar Napa variety and the juxtaposition of the two wines helps sidestep the bubbles and expose what is left - just the grape. The pale salmon sparkler has faint aromas of sour red fruit, hibiscus, and fresh cream. Quite rich with a creamy palette, there are flavors of red berries, green stems, and lots of minerals. Truly awesome.

Pirom Phadoemchit

Terrible. I've had sparkling mineral water with more flavor. I do not understand the appeal of this considering it's more expensive than some grower champagne. Heck industrial prosecco is more interesting.