rating B+

standout pét-nat specialist

about based in Sonoma, Faith Armstrong works with single vineyards from Mendocino down to Contra Costa County, making a whole range of wines (including cans). Her pét-nats are the best I’ve tried from California, with a balance and concentration that is very difficult to control in that style of wine, and with an experimental innovation that makes the wines interesting without being off-putting.

wines tasted

Pétillant-Naturel (vintage) ($30)

100% Malvasia Bianca, from Capp Inn Ranch in Suisun Valley—a region adjacent to Napa Valley, but warmer and less associated with wine. All native yeasts, with fermentation finished in the bottle. There’s a spicy, floral character which makes the wine very attractive, and the wine is dry and tense. Very nice balance.

Sparkling Red Pétillant-Naturel (vintage) ($38)

All Carignan (spelt the California way, Carignane). Lees are included in the bottling to allow the fermentation to complete. An unusual but quite delicious wine, which demonstrates the diversity of both Carignan and pét-nat.

Rosé of Pinot Noir Pétillant-Naturel (vintage) ($34)

From Hawkeye Ranch in Redwood Valley, Mendocino. Just a lovely bubbly rosé full of red fruit aromas, fresh and lightly spicy.

website www.onwardwines.com

email faith@onwardwines.com

phone +1 707 812 1777

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