Michael Shaps, Honah Lee Vineyard, Petit Manseng 2021 – Monticello

The wine has a medium to deep lemon yellow color with light golden highlights. The nose is juicy, fleshy, and concentrated, yet offers a lovely freshness. It expresses notes of crushed yellow apple, crisp white peach, juicy apricot, as well as fresh blood orange, lemon zest and honey, a hint of wax, white flowers (acacia, apple blossom, a hint of orange blossom), complemented by a refreshing hint of cucumber and tangy passion fruit. There is also a slight hint of vanilla and toasted hazelnut in the background. The palate is rich, fleshy, enveloping, with an oily and soft texture, balanced by a good bitterness of chestnut honey and grapefruit, as well as a salivating acidity. We also find flavors of crushed yellow lemon, juicy blood orange, yellow peach, apricot, associated with notes of wax, white flowers (lime blossom, acacia, a hint of chamomile). The finish is savory and persistent, with hints of toast (toasted hazelnut), vanilla and butter. Beautiful salivating acidity and a fine tannic side on the finish, which balance the richness of the wine. Concentration and density with good balance.