La Prenda Wines was founded in 2008 by Ned and Erika Hill, who named the winery after the street where Ned’s father grew up. They are proud of their Sonoma terroir and make wines that highlight the region’s strengths. Today we are trying their Cabernet Sauvignon, Brut Rose, and Pet-Nat Sparkling Rose but under a second label, Fifth Hill. Let’s pour some wine.
2021 La Prenda Wines 95476 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 2% Cab Franc. The number in the name refers to Sonoma’s zip code. On the nose and palate, this wine shows juicy plum, gentle pepper, and a touch of mint, with the notes coming together particularly well. There’s excellent structure here as well, with medium-high acidity and lightly drying tannins that run through the finish. I’d really love to have this with a steak. The wine’s acidity and tannic finish would help it shine. A- / $30
2022 La Prenda Wines Brut Rose – Sparkling, 100% Pinot Noir. Salmon colored, the wine shows lovely, gentle. integrated notes of strawberry and cream with a touch of lemon on the nose and palate. Ample, small bubbles give it a velvety mouthfeel, and the wine’s high acidity promises it will pair well with a range of foods, but I’d like to have it with grilled salmon. A- / $32
2022 Fifth Hill Wines Pétillant-Naturel “The Ripper” – 61% Syrah, 39% Petite Sirah. Pouring dark salmon in color, the wine shows a big fruity nose of strawberry and a touch of yeast. It also opens with a brief note of raspberry that soon disappears. On first sip, it is very effervescent for a pet-nat. The fruity notes on the nose are much less dominant here. Strawberry, again, is foremost, but it is joined and balanced by nice minerality and a touch of yeast. Medium acidity gives it additional structure. This is a delightful and surprisingly complex pet-nat. A- / $34
2022 Fifth Hill Wines Pétillant-Naturel “The Ripper”
$34
