Michael Shaps, Monticello (Virginia) Petit Manseng 2021

 Petit Manseng may be known for making sweet wines in south-western France, but American winemakers are making more and more dry white wines with this high-quality variety.  These vines are very well suited to growing conditions in Virginia, where Petit Manseng’s loose bunches and thick-skinned berries help protect the grapes from the local humidity.  Immediately after harvest, Michael Shaps cold soaked the fruit to build complexity in the aromas, flavors and texture.  The wine’s bouquet shows a lot of fruit ranging from tart pineapple, mango, and lychee to nectarine, pear, and red apple.  After fermentation, the wine is aged in 40% new oak with lees aging.  This process lends suggestions of creamy vanilla and warm spices to its already complex tropical and tree fruit character.  This is a perfect summer wine, sure to turn the heads of many white wine drinkers.