Drink (and think) like a somm
Michael Shaps
Shenandoah
Petit Verdot
Virginia
Petit Verdot 100%
Cassis, Violets, Blackberry, Cocoa nibs
30 Months
Neutral Oak
100%
ABOUT
Michael Shaps 2022 “Shenandoah” Petit Verdot
Dark-fruited and elegant, with a lift that’s signature Shenandoah Valley. Aromas of blackberry, black plum, blueberry, violet, and graphite lead to a concentrated palate of cassis, blackberry compote, cocoa nib, cedar, and dried sage. Firm, fine-grained tannins and bright, valley-cooled acidity give structure and length, finishing with dark chocolate and a touch of spice. Delicious now with a short decant; built to age.
PAIRINGS
IN A PINCH
Aged cheeses, grilled meats.
DEEPER DIVE
This Petit Verdot is packed with dark fruit, spice notes, and earthy tones like chocolate and cedar, but the elevated acidity allows it to maintain its elegance which opens it up to some great pairing options.
Grilled meats are going to be the best bet as a this wine does well with some smoky dishes. Lamb, gamier meats, and sausage are going to work well to complement this wine’s body and spice characteristics.
Aged cheeses with a bit of funkiness will stand up nicely to this wine and go well with its earthy notes.
STANDOUT FEATURES: Dark fruit, bright acidity, chocolate notes.
PAIRING SCALE
STEER CLEAR
Be careful of anything too light like fish since this wine still has enough body to over power those dishes. Also make sure to avoid rich sauces as they may block out most of this wine.
CHEESE OPTIONS
Stilton
Stilton
Country: England
Animal: Cow
Type: Strong, funky
Texture: Hard
Style: Full-bodied, tangy
Chèvre
Chèvre
Country: France
Animal: Goat
Type: Soft
Texture: Crumbly
Style: Tangy, earthy, buttery.
Taleggio
Taleggio
Country: Italy
Animal: Cow
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy
Style: Mild, sweet, aromatic.
RECIPE IDEAS
SERVICE
WHICH GLASSES?
Large Bordeaux or All-purpose glasses would be best.
BORDEAUX
BURGUNDY
FLUTE
COUPE
ALL-PURPOSE
WHITE
DESSERT
SHOULD I DECANT THIS?
WHY “Probably”?
This wine changes dramatically with some oxygen. A decanter will definitely help that process, but a lot of the flavors start to show up with some generous swirling as well.
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 – 2029
Development
NERD STUFF
TECHNICAL NOTES
pH: 3.76
TA: 6.9 grams/L
Alc: 13.5%
RS: 0.00%
Bottled: March 11, 2025
Cases Produced: 43
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
