Very deep gold color; tropical fruit aromas; grilled pineapple, lemon, caramel apple, beeswax, brioche on the nose and palate.
Dry; bright acidity (3.23 pH) with touch of tang while retaining creamy elements. Sometimes called a “red wine drinker’s white wine,” this has savory notes and a medium-plus body, unique personality, and impressive complexity. Blend of 98% petit manseng, 2% sauvignon blanc. Petit manseng is notable for its ability to concentrate sugars while retaining acidity. Early Mountain chose to make this in dry style. Unusual among white wines, it is added to blends, including reds, to contribute body and acidity. 13.3% ABV
Petit Manseng’s roots trace to the Jurançon region in the foothills of the French Atlantic Pyreness. Its first fame was producing high-quality sweet wines but suffered during the reign of phylloxera. Tony Wolf, a professor of viticulture at Virginia Tech, saw its ability to work in Virginia’s climate.
Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, Virginia comments on their 2021 adventures: “In the lively spirit of Virginia, 2021 was an exciting vintage for Early Mountain. It very much reflects the impact of site, with regions throughout the state experiencing highly varying climatic events, greatly influencing the dynamic range in fruit attributes. Early spring, we gratefully saw few frost events, escaping significant fruit damage. Despite some early season rains, bloom-time in the vineyard was quite dry, allowing for a good fruit set. With warm daytime temperatures throughout most of the growing season, we saw high and even ripening throughout both Quaker Run and Early Mountain vineyards. The late season rains, leading to harvest were also accompanied by notable drying (this was doubly obvious when tending to our new plantings, which need water!). Overall, despite harvest-time rainfall, we could not have asked for a better result.”
Early Mountain Vineyards owner Jean Case also is chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation. The website notes she “is a philanthropist, investor and internet and impact investing pioneer who is a passionate believer in the power of business to do good and advocates for the importance of embracing a more fearless approach to innovate and bring about transformational breakthroughs.”
Maya Hood White is the winemaker and viticulturalist. She is an advocate of environmentally low-impact viticulture. Julia Graves is the assistant winemaker. She earned a MS degree in Vine, Wine, and Terroir Management from Ecole Supérieure d’Agricultures in Angers, France.
Early Mountain Vineyards Petit Manseng, Virginia 2021 delivers terrific mouthfeel, tropical fruits, impressive complexity from a southwestern France grape that has found a home in Virginia. This is delicious pleaser from a grape with which you likely do not have extensive experience. If you can find this effort, it is well worth a sip. Pair with seafood, especially heavier white fish like halibut in buttery sauce; salads and vegetarian fare; spicy Thai dishes; pork. Cheese—versatile; soft and hard cheeses; parmesan, prima donna gouda, manchego, blue cheese—roquefort, stilton, lanark blue. $25-29
Early Mountain Vineyard website
