2020 Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines
Tasting Notes
Pet Nat is a freshly fermented wine bottled with active yeast present, giving the wine its natural sparkle. Our pétillant-naturel (meaning “naturally sparkling”) is a celebration of the 2020 vintage with vibrant fruit flavors and freshness with lots of crushed strawberry and floral aromas. Low alcohol and dry acid make this perfect to chill and serve with creamy cheeses and charcuterie.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyards: Stornetta, Transvision, Clos Cobble
Appellation: Sonoma, Carneros
Harvest Sugar: 22.4 Brix
Fermentation: Cold fermentation in stainless steel
Farming: Fish-Friendly Farming
Alcohol: 12%
TA = 5.8 g/L
pH = 3.3
Production: 287 cases
Release Date: June 2020
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2020 Fifth Hill Wines Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling
Case:
12x 2020 Fifth Hill Wines Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling
Family-owned and operated by Ned and Erika Hill, La Prenda has managed some of the best vineyards in Sonoma for almost two decades. As multi-generation Sonoma grape farmers, we have a deep respect for the land and community. Great wines begin with hard-working local farmers and La Prenda.
A Winemaker’s Passion
Mike Cox joined La Prenda wines in 2020, after working alongside pioneering vintner Walter Schug for 25 years. His award-winning wines are known for their elegance, balance, and longevity. “Highest quality wine, using heritage techniques.” ~ Mike Cox – Winemaker
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines
4 bottles for $79.99 $20/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Alice sent us a bottle of this to rat! This will be a shorter report than normal because this bottle didn’t last as long as normal. That means it’s delicious!
time2testit and crew came over and we drank this over an hour or so this afternoon.
It was truly the perfect wine to enjoy with kids playing and hanging out on a Sunday afternoon.
Colour is cloudy pink. This is quite normal for a pet-nat, as there’s usually some yeast floating around inside the bottle. Lots of lees at the bottom of the bottle, again, as is the norm with a pet-nat.
The lees gives you two ways to drink the wine (courtesy of Andrew from Briceland Winery). First, you can stand the bottle up for a while and let it all settle and try not to disturb it while pouring. Second, you can invert the bottle to mix it in. For some wines that will totally change the experience while for others it doesn’t. We tried this one both ways and this is one where it didn’t seem to matter.
In both cases, this was bright, refreshing, and super easy to drink. Less effervescent than a proper Champagne, but with enough to remind you it’s a bubbly wine. I got the standard bright red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), some rhubarb, and hints of earth that should be present in a Carneros Pinot Noir. Very little residual sugar - think dry rosé. Nice and acidic without being overtly tart or sour. It really hit all the notes I was hoping it would.
All of us were disappointed when the bottle was done, and we thought this was likely to be a solid value at the Casemates price. $16.67 is an excellent price for quality bubbles like this, so long as you’re not expecting Champagne-style characteristics.
And for those who have (sour) beer aficionados in their lives, this would also make for a great bridge between the wine and (sour/fruity) beer worlds.
2020 Pétíllant Naturel Carnero sparking pinot Nior by Fifth Hill Wines
#winesforlunch
Bottle arrived on June 30th (my 15th wedding anniversary). There is definitely a cloudiness to this sparkling wine and we’ll need to let it cool and settle so into the wine fridge to rest.
Upon pulling the slightly pink bottle there is noticeable sentiment (yeast) around the bottom. Pulling the bottle and opening the bottle temp measures 46°F. The carbonation is light and refreshing. Dry, light-bodied, with bright acidity. I’m getting sour grape, granny smith apple, strawberry rhubarb pie. It doesn’t seem to be a blend of any grapes, and it also seems the Winery website product link is broken. It is heavy in minerals, with no funk, just a mouth feel of calcium/magnesium… not a salt lick but rocky.
Cooling it to 40°F didn’t do much to change it.
Allowing it to warm to 54°F didn’t have much change.
We’d call this a summer stoop sipper here in Baltimore. Chill half a case, get a charcuterie board, some oldbay wings and hang with your neighbors.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2020 Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines - $40 = 16.65%
“Yearning for a new sparkler? “Pét-nat” or pétillant naturel wines are light, playful sparklers generally produced via a single fermentation in the bottle. “It is a freshly fermented wine, bottled with still-active yeast present, giving the wine its natural sparkle,” says La Prenda Wines winemaker Mike Cox. Cox explains that traditional sparkling wines age for 12 to 24 months, which is great for the complexity of the wine, but means it can lose a bit of that snappy, fresh feel. Pét-nats have that crisp character in spades…A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, winemaker Mike Cox describes this sparkler as fresh and fruity with lots of crushed strawberry and floral aromas. “It’s crisp—but not tart,” he says. Cox loves it with charcuterie from Salumeria Ovello on West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma”
Also from what I picked up, since I know zip about these wines, is that each bottle is unique because of bottle fermentation…
my fwiw is getting less interesting all of the time…
@chipgreen Either we stink at searching, or somebody added it. The fact that it’s got two vintages listed makes me suspect it’s the former. Though in our defense, the name’s not quite the same.
@chipgreen No doubt when it gets here I’ll be able to clear it up, with my extra-discerning, supertaster’s palate. “Oh yes, that’s 100% Pinot, without question.”
@chipgreen@InFrom I submitted change requests to bring it in line with what’s on the bottle. It is indeed varietally labelled and it’s Carneros, not Sonoma Coast.
@klezman Well, I bought a four pack, hoping one will be a blue label. It looks to be a drawing of a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible - which is the friend’s grandfather’s car that has graced many of the family weddings. His son’s wedding might happen in the near future, and I thought this would be a cool present for him.
2020 Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines
Tasting Notes
Pet Nat is a freshly fermented wine bottled with active yeast present, giving the wine its natural sparkle. Our pétillant-naturel (meaning “naturally sparkling”) is a celebration of the 2020 vintage with vibrant fruit flavors and freshness with lots of crushed strawberry and floral aromas. Low alcohol and dry acid make this perfect to chill and serve with creamy cheeses and charcuterie.
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$420.00/Case for 12x 2020 Fifth Hill Wines Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling
About The Winery
Decades of Experience
A Winemaker’s Passion
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 25 - Wednesday, Jul 27
Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines
4 bottles for $79.99 $20/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@ilCesare CellarTracker link I think.
Alice sent us a bottle of this to rat! This will be a shorter report than normal because this bottle didn’t last as long as normal. That means it’s delicious!
time2testit and crew came over and we drank this over an hour or so this afternoon.
It was truly the perfect wine to enjoy with kids playing and hanging out on a Sunday afternoon.
Colour is cloudy pink. This is quite normal for a pet-nat, as there’s usually some yeast floating around inside the bottle. Lots of lees at the bottom of the bottle, again, as is the norm with a pet-nat.
The lees gives you two ways to drink the wine (courtesy of Andrew from Briceland Winery). First, you can stand the bottle up for a while and let it all settle and try not to disturb it while pouring. Second, you can invert the bottle to mix it in. For some wines that will totally change the experience while for others it doesn’t. We tried this one both ways and this is one where it didn’t seem to matter.
In both cases, this was bright, refreshing, and super easy to drink. Less effervescent than a proper Champagne, but with enough to remind you it’s a bubbly wine. I got the standard bright red fruits (strawberry, red cherry), some rhubarb, and hints of earth that should be present in a Carneros Pinot Noir. Very little residual sugar - think dry rosé. Nice and acidic without being overtly tart or sour. It really hit all the notes I was hoping it would.
All of us were disappointed when the bottle was done, and we thought this was likely to be a solid value at the Casemates price. $16.67 is an excellent price for quality bubbles like this, so long as you’re not expecting Champagne-style characteristics.
And for those who have (sour) beer aficionados in their lives, this would also make for a great bridge between the wine and (sour/fruity) beer worlds.
@klezman
Sounds really interesting! Too bad no IL shipping.
@karenhynes Bummer. No available wootleggers?
It’s really a fun wine.
@klezman I think I’ll survive. I have more wine than space…though it does sound fun and different!
@klezman Nice notes!
2020 Pétíllant Naturel Carnero sparking pinot Nior by Fifth Hill Wines
#winesforlunch
Bottle arrived on June 30th (my 15th wedding anniversary). There is definitely a cloudiness to this sparkling wine and we’ll need to let it cool and settle so into the wine fridge to rest.
Upon pulling the slightly pink bottle there is noticeable sentiment (yeast) around the bottom. Pulling the bottle and opening the bottle temp measures 46°F. The carbonation is light and refreshing. Dry, light-bodied, with bright acidity. I’m getting sour grape, granny smith apple, strawberry rhubarb pie. It doesn’t seem to be a blend of any grapes, and it also seems the Winery website product link is broken. It is heavy in minerals, with no funk, just a mouth feel of calcium/magnesium… not a salt lick but rocky.
Cooling it to 40°F didn’t do much to change it.
Allowing it to warm to 54°F didn’t have much change.
We’d call this a summer stoop sipper here in Baltimore. Chill half a case, get a charcuterie board, some oldbay wings and hang with your neighbors.
@jml326 Thanks for sharing your sentiments. and sediments.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2020 Fifth Hill Pétillant-Naturel “Cadillac” Sparkling from La Prenda Wines - $40 = 16.65%
From Sonoma Magazine Feb '22:
“Yearning for a new sparkler? “Pét-nat” or pétillant naturel wines are light, playful sparklers generally produced via a single fermentation in the bottle. “It is a freshly fermented wine, bottled with still-active yeast present, giving the wine its natural sparkle,” says La Prenda Wines winemaker Mike Cox. Cox explains that traditional sparkling wines age for 12 to 24 months, which is great for the complexity of the wine, but means it can lose a bit of that snappy, fresh feel. Pét-nats have that crisp character in spades…A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, winemaker Mike Cox describes this sparkler as fresh and fruity with lots of crushed strawberry and floral aromas. “It’s crisp—but not tart,” he says. Cox loves it with charcuterie from Salumeria Ovello on West Napa Street in downtown Sonoma”
Also from what I picked up, since I know zip about these wines, is that each bottle is unique because of bottle fermentation…
my fwiw is getting less interesting all of the time…
/giphy perceptive-amusing-boar
@chipgreen I didn’t see anything in CT for this one, did you?
@InFrom
No luck here either
@chipgreen Either we stink at searching, or somebody added it. The fact that it’s got two vintages listed makes me suspect it’s the former. Though in our defense, the name’s not quite the same.
@chipgreen I noticed that the CT page I linked to calls it a Rose blend, while here says 100% PN.
@InFrom
Although in the Sonoma mag article posted by kaolis above, it says pinot noir/chardonnay. Might have been the other vintage.
@chipgreen No doubt when it gets here I’ll be able to clear it up, with my extra-discerning, supertaster’s palate.
“Oh yes, that’s 100% Pinot, without question.” 
@chipgreen @InFrom I submitted change requests to bring it in line with what’s on the bottle. It is indeed varietally labelled and it’s Carneros, not Sonoma Coast.
/giphy contentious-trying-swallow
Happy 4th of July everyone!
@Winedavid49
Happy Independence Day WD!!!
I really want to buy this for the label, but all of the pictures look a bit funky, likely due to flattening distortion.
@woopdedoo the label is fun! Do it!
@klezman Well, I bought a four pack, hoping one will be a blue label. It looks to be a drawing of a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible - which is the friend’s grandfather’s car that has graced many of the family weddings. His son’s wedding might happen in the near future, and I thought this would be a cool present for him.
In for a case, hope it’s good!
@Ten9Eight This has been by far my favorite purchase here and I hope it comes around again.