Drink (and think) like a somm
Michael Shaps
Puissance
Virginia
Monticello
Cabernet Sauvignon
98%
Cabernet Franc
2%
Dates, Figs, Plums, Dark Chocolate
36 Months
New French Oak
50%
Neutral Oak
50%
ABOUT
Michael Shaps 2020 Puissance
The aptly named Puissance (powerful) is a full bodied, rich, and densely complex wine made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon.
It is made in the apassimento style (used to produce Italy’s famous Amarone wine) which is a technique where the grapes are dried in a heated tobacco barn for weeks to concentrate and intensify the flavors from each cluster.
The process reduces the water to sugar ratio of the grapes which produces a richer, almost syrupy juice when pressed and fermented. The finished wine is usually higher in alcohol, in this case 16%, and retains some residual sugar although it is barely perceptible due to the full body and high acidity of the wine.
The finished wine is full of dried, earthy fruit notes like dates, figs, and chocolate. The 2020 Puissance is a very age-worthy wine with a potential of 15-20 years in proper cellar conditions and will likely need significant decanting if opened young.
PAIRINGS
IN A PINCH
Rich game, braised meats, truffles.
DEEPER DIVE
It’s difficult to imagine a dish too big for this wine. The high alcohol, full body, and elevated acidity give it the ability to match up against almost anything on the fuller end of the spectrum.
That being said, this bottle still maintains its elegance and can pair beautifully with some medium plus dishes like duck or risotto given the sauces aren’t too light.
Braised meats are going to be great here to match the dried fruit notes of the wine, and if you’re a fan of truffles, now would be the time to break them out.
STANDOUT FEATURES: Full body, earthy notes, concentrated mouthfeel.
PAIRING SCALE
STEER CLEAR
Anything too light (fish, chicken, even pizza) will likely get overpowered easily by this wine.
CHEESE OPTIONS
Stilton
Stilton
Country: England
Animal: Cow
Type: Strong, funky
Texture: Hard
Style: Full-bodied, tangy
Taleggio
Taleggio
Country: Italy
Animal: Cow
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy
Style: Mild, sweet, aromatic
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano
Country: Italy
Animal: Cow
Type: Hard
Texture: Crumbly, grainy
Style: Nutty, salty, tangy
RECIPE IDEAS
SERVICE
WHICH GLASSES?
Large Bordeaux are going to be best to experience the full potential of this wine, but all-purpose glasses always work in a pinch.
BORDEAUX
BURGUNDY
FLUTE
COUPE
ALL-PURPOSE
WHITE
DESSERT
SHOULD I DECANT THIS?
WHY “Yes”?
This is a big wine with a lot to unpack, and there’s too much complexity to skip the aeration period. If you don’t have a decanter, just about any large vessel will work, or at least give this wine plenty of time in your glass to open up.
How long?
Generally you would want to decant a younger wine for longer to help it open up and be cautious of exposing older wines to oxygen for too long. There are always exceptions of course, but this is a pretty good rule to follow.
Minutes
SERVING TEMP
The correct serving temperature is important to show a wine’s true potential, but don’t stress over getting the temp exactly right. Use the chart below to try to get in the right ballpark.
AGING
WHEN SHOULD I OPEN THIS?
If a wine has been released by the producer, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2025 – 2045
Development
NERD STUFF
TECHNICAL NOTES
pH: 4.03
TA: 7.45 grams/L
Alc: 16%
RS: 2%
Bottled: July 27, 2023
Cases Produced: 50
PRODUCER
ABOUT US
Founded in 2007, Michael Shaps Wineworks is located in the former Montdomaine Winery, twelve miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia. The original concept was to use the facility for production of the existing Michael Shaps brand of wines, and to produce a second brand called Wineworks, a more value-oriented line of Virginia wines.
Within the first year the opportunity arose to develop Virginia’s first contract winemaking operation–more commonly known as custom crush–to make wine for independent growers who want their own brand. Found in many wine regions around the world, this previously untapped market became a focus for Wineworks.
Between 2008-2014 the customer base grew to over twenty contract winemaking clients and the facility grew in size and capacity, requiring two expansions. Wineworks quickly became a regional leader for contract winemaking, serving clients from Tennessee to Delaware.
Michael ShapsWhen Michael’s founding partner left in 2014, he brought in investors to expand the winery facility to increase production capacity to 30,000 cases of wine and changed the name from Virginia Wineworks to Michael Shaps Wineworks. In 2015 the processing volume reached 430 tons (approximately 28,000 cases) and the 2017 harvest brought in over 500 tons.
OUR VINEYARDS
Our Vineyard sites have been chosen and cultivated with care, thinking about the current vintages as well as future vintages. We believe that great wines start in the field, without great fruit, we cannot achieve great wine.
HONAH LEE
Located in Gordonsville, VA, Honah Lee Vineyard is our primary vineyard site.
WILD MEADOW
Wild Meadow Vineyard has been highly acclaimed as one of the best chardonnay sites in the state.
MICHAEL SHAPS ESTATE
Michael Shaps Estate Vineyard
The Harris Creek Road property has been planted to vineyard since the early 1990s.
Interested in joining our wine club?
Membership Benefits:
- 4 shipments per year: February, May, September, December
- 30% discount on all Wine Club shipments
- 20% discount on all other wine bottle purchases–both online and in tasting rooms
- Complimentary wine tastings for two (limit 2 per membership) at the winery of either Virginia or Burgundy wines, depending on your club each time you visit the winery
- 20% off wine flights at Wineworks Extended each time you visit
- Discounted tickets to many special events
- Access to pre-release & “library” wines not available to the public
- Tickets for two (limit 2 per membership) to the quarterly Wine Club Pickup parties, held in February, May, September, December
