The Kabaj San Lurinz Corvus Pet Nat from Slovenia has a raw savoriness to it. If you love small producers doing big things, this natural, no sulfur added Pet Nat is for you.
Slovenian wines. Have you tried them? What about pet nats? Here is your reason to try both!
I’m newer to Slovenian wines. Sure, I’ve tried them by the glass at restaurants that lean into cool, underappreciated wine regions, but I know next to nothing about the country’s grape production and style as a whole.
After this bottle of Slovenian pet nat from Kabaj Wines, however, that’s about to change, because this bottle is mystical, magical, and really piqued my interest.
Oh, and for those looking for pet nats without sulfur, it’s worth mentioning that this one fits the bill!
Tell Me About Kabaj Wines
Kabaj Wines uses natural farming practices, and like other forward-thinking vintners, focuses on the harmony and conversation between the vineyards, soil, and the land. This is precisely why I seek out smaller producers, who view themselves as stewards of the land, rather than turn-and-burn winemakers.
From their website, the property looks like a cool mix of winery, restaurant and quaint six-room inn. Basically, its the kind of place a wine lover should stay if they’re looking for an all encompassing food-wine experience.
It’s also worth noting that their gorgeous vineyards are just a stone’s throw from the neighboring Italian wine region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. If you’re planning on visiting both Italian and Slovenian wine regions, give it a try!
Just one more quick thought for background, when asked how he makes his wines, Jean Michel Morel of Kabaj has been known to respond: “Who cares? Do you like the wine?”
I don’t know about you, but I love that no-frills approach.
The San Lurinz Pet Nat Tasting Notes
This natural, no sulfur pet nat is 80% Pinot Noir, and the rest is an unspecified blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Before we even get into what this delightful pet nat tastes like, I have to say, popping the crown cap off this bottle is a trip. I’ve truly never seen anything like it.
The bottle comes with a small plastic widget right under the crown cap, and once released, the bubbles briskly foam up to the surface the way a child’s science fair volcano does! Interestingly, they never actually foamed over the edge! My immediate thought was, I really want to play Oingo Boingo’s, Weird Science!
After what seemed like a minute of ecstatic fizzing, the bottle relaxed into itself and was ready to pour. I’m dying to buy a few more bottles so I can include this in my spooky Halloween wines!
Anyway… back to the tasting notes. This pet nat is savory, dry and crisp. It’s just a little funky, and a little earthy. As the wine gathers itself in the glass, it doesn’t take long to realize this wine is sitting on layers of itself. The finish is long and just plain refreshing.
I’m less concerned about the conversations around natural pet nats without sulfur, but if you are, please try and find this wine – and open it in front of a room full of friends. Even if they claim they don’t like wine, they will love this one.
What to pair with it and how to serve
I paired this bottle with Saturday night college football and some Drunken Goat cheese. You could easily drink this on it’s own, or with some light appetizers: think, cheeses, salamis, or seafood.
The great thing about pet nats is they’re anytime, any place kind of wines. Serve them to your non-wine drinking friends, your wine snob friends, your mother, your father, your sister, that neighbor you don’t really like, that neighbor you’re trying to show off to…. You get the idea.
Where to Buy It
I feel lucky to have stumbled across this pet nat at K&L Wines in one of my mini-bulk orders. (Mini re: big enough to qualify for delivery). Because, as I’ve been researching other places this wine is available, I’m seeing that it’s already sold out at shops like Flatiron Wines in San Francisco.
FAQs
What is Pet Nat?
Pet Nat is a type of sparkling wine made using the ancestral method. The word is actually short for “pétillant naturel”, which translates to “natural sparkling”. Winemakers were actually using this method before the “traditional method” used to make Champagne.
Is Pet Nat dry or sweet?
The answer is both! It just depends on the winemaker, their style, and the grapes they used to make the wine. If you’re looking for a specific type of Pet Nat, be sure to ask someone in the wine shop.
Better yet, visit a tasting room that serves pet nats so you can pick the perfect wine for your palate.