Pét Nat Blanc 2021
Pét Nat Blanc 2021
The high percentages of Malvasia Bianca and Muscat play to create one of the most aromatic Pet Nat bottlings yet. Malvasia Bianca, Muscat and Petit Manseng were co-fermented together, with Petit Manseng providing the acid structure and depth of aromatics.
Distinctive aromas of orange blossom, honeysuckle, pear, and apricot are highlighted by meyer lemon mango and honey. In this bottling there is a slight amount of residual sugar remaining in the wine, complementing the wine’s effervescence, as well as the vibrant acidity of Petit Manseng. The fine bubbles, produced by the ferment finished in-bottle, create a unique mouthfeel with the natural tannins from the grape varieties used.
In Stock
Composition / Blend
48% Malvasia Bianca, 28% Petit Manseng, 24% Muscat
Size
750mL
Wine Specs
Vineyard Designation
Early Mountain Vineyard, Mount Juliet Vineyard, Capstone Vineyard
pH
3.43
Residual Sugar
8 g/L
Alcohol %
11.9
Winemaker Notes
Pétillant naturel (Pét-Nat), literally meaning “naturally sparkling,” is a term for sparkling wine made by Méthode Ancestrale. The wine begins its fermentation as any other white; but prior to completion, the wine is bottled under crown cap to finish the fermentation in bottle. The small amount of sugar left in the wine is consumed by the yeast, resulting in a dry finished product. The carbon dioxide produced by the yeast then dissolves into the wine, producing fine bubbles. The bubble size is slightly smaller than in Methodé Champenoise sparkling wines. Due to an active fermentation in bottle, it remains slightly cloudy and will settle some with time. With such a non-interventionist style of winemaking, Pét-Nat offers a unique glimpse into the characteristics of the vintage.
Vineyard Notes
In the lively spirit of Virginia, 2021 was an exciting vintage for Early Mountain. It very much reflects the impact of site, with regions throughout the state experiencing highly varying climatic events, greatly influencing the dynamic range in fruit attributes.
Early spring, we gratefully saw few frost events, escaping significant fruit damage. Despite some early season rains, bloom-time in the vineyard was quite dry, allowing for a good fruit set. With warm daytime temperatures throughout most of the growing season, we saw high and even ripening throughout both Quaker Run and Early Mountain vineyards. The late season rains, leading to harvest were also accompanied by notable drying (this was doubly obvious when tending to our new plantings, which need water!). Overall, despite harvest-time rainfall, we could not have asked for a better result.
