Drink (and think) like a somm
Michael Shaps
Roussanne
Virginia
Monticello
Roussanne 100%
Green Apple, Citrus, Apricot, Dried Herbs
12 Months
New French Oak 33%
Neutral Oak 67%
Crisp, but with a soft, round mouthfeel from the oak aging. This wine seems simple at first, but opens with a considerable depth of fruit flavors and herbal notes.
Low
Med -
Medium
Med +
High
ABOUT
Michael Shaps 2023 Roussanne
Originally from France’s Northern Rhône region, Roussanne is often grown alongside its more widely recognized relative, Viognier. In contrast, Roussanne typically exhibits brighter acidity, pronounced minerality, and a more focused fruit profile.
Our 2023 Roussanne highlights these characteristics beautifully, with barrel fermentation adding layers of richness and subtle spice alongside notes of green apple, stone fruit, and citrus, with dried herbal nuances on the finish. Its lively acidity maintains balance and elegance, giving the wine a fresh and lifted character.
PAIRINGS
IN A PINCH
Rich seafood and hard cheeses.
DEEPER DIVE
Roussanne has naturally elevated acidity, which makes it great for cutting through the richness of seafood dishes like lobster, sea bass, or scallops.
This 2023 Roussanne was barrel aged, which adds a roundness to the palate, and lets it pair well with dishes like roast poultry and even lean pork.
It’s also going to be great with hard, aged cheeses.
STANDOUT FEATURES
- Elevated Acidity
- Stone Fruit Notes
- Rich Texture
STEER CLEAR
Anything too big like rich, fatty meats will probably overpower this wine.
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
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano
Country: Italy
Animal: Cow
Type: Hard
Texture: Grainy
Style: Salty, sharp, nutty.
Gruyère
Gruyère
Country: Switzerland
Animal: Cow
Type: Hard
Texture: Dense
Style: Salty, sweet, earthy (aged).
Chèvre
Chèvre
Country: France
Animal: Goat
Type: Soft
Texture: Creamy, crumbly
Style: Acidic, salty, tangy
RECIPE IDEAS
SERVICE
WHICH GLASSES?
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 is a lot of complexity in this wine, which would be brought out with some decanting, but most of the flavors start to show up with some generous swirling in the glass 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 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
NERD STUFF
TECHNICAL NOTES
Brix at Harvest: 22
pH: 3.32
TA: 6.25 grams/L
Alc: 12.3%
RS: 0.08%
Bottled: June 6, 2024
Cases Produced: 222
VINEYARD NOTES
All of the fruit for the 2023 Roussanne was sourced from Honah Lee Vineyard in Gordonsville, Virginia. Situated at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet with southeastern exposure, the vineyard benefits from abundant sunlight throughout the growing season. The site’s predominantly Davidson clay soils are well draining and particularly well suited for Northern Rhône varieties such as Roussanne and Viognier, allowing the fruit to develop both richness and natural acidity.
WINEMAKING NOTES
The fruit for this wine was hand harvested and transported to the winery, where it underwent a cooling period prior to processing. After pressing and settling, the wine was transferred to French oak barrels, 33% of which were new oak and 67% neutral, for fermentation and aging. We use a combination of 228 liter barrels a long with larger (500liter ) puncheons. This approach adds depth and texture while preserving the wine’s natural freshness and vibrant acidity.
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
