Drink (and think) like a somm
Michael Shaps
Petit Manseng
Virginia
Monticello
Petit Manseng 100%
Pineapple, Lychee, Vanilla, Orange Marmalade
New French Oak 32%
Neutral Oak 68%
Full bodied and packed with ripe, tropical fruit notes. This dry style of Petit Manseng is big, complex, and your go-to for Asian cuisine pairings.
Low
Med -
Medium
Med +
High
ABOUT
Michael Shaps 2023 Petit Manseng
In the Jurançon region of France where it originates from, the grape is more acidic so it is mainly used to create sweeter wines or dessert wines, which balances nicely with the acidity. However, Michael has been making his in a dry style. The grape is up-and-coming in Charlottesville and more wineries are creating a dry Petit Manseng as it ripens here with less acidity.
This wine is our biggest white and is structured like a Chardonnay. It transmits a grilled flavor, hinting of grilled pineapple and mango. It is very aromatic, with a bright, tropical and pleasant acid on the finish that balances out the up front weight. Pairs well with heavy shellfish and chicken dishes.
PAIRINGS
IN A PINCH
Shellfish and Asian cuisine.
DEEPER DIVE
This is a big wine, but it is well balanced by its high acidity and has a ton of ripe fruit flavors to show off. It’s a versatile wine that can easily be enjoyed on its own, or paired with rich, buttery seafood and all sorts of asian dishes.
The elevated acidity is going to be great for things like sea bass, lobster, and crab since it will be able to cut through the richness and keep the meal feeling light.
Its tropical notes are going to be great for Asian dishes like Thai and Indian, where it will brighten up the meals and be able to stand up to a little heat and complex spices.
STANDOUT FEATURES
- Tropical Fruit Notes
- Full Body
- Bright Acidity
STEAR CLEAR
Even though this wine has a full body, it’s probably still best to avoid red meats and stews.
PAIRING SCALE
Light Dishes
Salads
Raw Bar
Med – Dishes
Fatty Fish
Roast Chicken
Med. Dishes
Lean Meats
Rich Poultry
Med + Dishes
Burgers
Fatty Meats
Full Dishes
Stews
Rich Sauces
CHEESE OPTIONS
Brie
Brie
Country: France
Animal: Cow
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy
Style: Nutty, rich, buttery.
Taleggio
Taleggio
Country: Italy
Animal: Cow
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy
Style: Mild, sweet, aromatic
Chèvre
Chèvre
Country: France
Animal: Goat
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy, crumbly
Style: Acidic, salty, tangy
RECIPE IDEAS
SERVICE
WHICH GLASSES?
Large Burgundy or All-purpose glasses would be best to get the most aromatics out of this wine.
BORDEAUX
BURGUNDY
FLUTE
COUPE
ALL-PURPOSE
WHITE
DESSERT
SHOULD I DECANT THIS?
WHY “Couldn’t hurt”?
There’s enough depth and complexity in this wine to justify breaking out the decanter, and even though the wine shows off its flavors pretty quickly, it could still benefit from some air right out of the bottle.
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 to decant this bottle:
Year opened
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:
20
-
20
Development
Year Opened
PRODUCER
1650 Harris Creek Rd
Charlottesville, VA
(434) 296-3438
Open Daily from 11am-5pm
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
