Last week we posted on the first phase of the Virginia Wine Chat in
Virginia Wine Chat - Virginia Governor's Case Wines - Part 1. A couple days later we focused on the second half dozen wines with most affiliated with longtime Virginia winemaker Michael Shaps. The tasting started with two white wines, one from Virginia's always reliable Barboursville Vineyards, the other from Michael Shaps and another example of how Petit Manseng is rising in stature. These were followed by three red wines - all made by Michael Shaps - but for three different wineries. And finally, the session ended with a dessert Petit Manseng which illustrates how the grape's natural acidity elevates the addition of residual sugar. Next month the results of the 2020 Virginia Governor's Cup Competition will be released. I'm sure Shaps and Barboursville will be among the gold medalist winners.
Barboursville Vineyards 2017 Reserve VermentinoTastes like Vermentino: saline minerality, herbaceousness, lemon peel, and lively acids
Michael Shaps Wineworks 2016 Petit Manseng ($30)
The wine maintains the grape's inherent bright tropical characters and acidity and provides a newly discovered depth and weight.
Upper Shirley Vineyards 2014 Zachariah ($40)
This blend is full-bodied where the dark cherry flavors lead to dusty tannins and an easy finish.
Hamlet Vineyards 2016 Eltham ($27)This 50-50 Merlot/Petit Verdot blend provides dense fruit, chewy tannins, and a spicy long finish as the acids linger.
Michael Shaps Wineworks 2015 Tannat ($35)
This wine is dense with tobacco & leather, sticky tannins and plenty of acids to lay this down for a while.
Michael Shaps Wineworks Raisin d'Être White 2016 ($25.00)
This dessert wine is composed of Petit Manseng that has been dried in tobacco barns where the raisining increases the sugar to 36%. It shows honey, orange, tropics, candied fruit - and lively acids.
