2021 Hintermen

A blend of 70% Petit Manseng, 15% Riesling, and 15% Vidal Blanc. Rich layers of white lily and honeysuckle give way to tart orange marmalade. The golden color implies a richness that seems present, but also not. The crisp apple-y acidity cuts through any fat the wine might have had and instead leaves you wanting more. 158 cases produced.

FRUIT SOURCES
Sherman Ridge Petit Manseng and Vidal blanc, Shenandoah Vineyards Riesling

WINEMAKING
These three grapes were fermented together in large (500 to 600L), neutral puncheons. The alcoholic fermentation lasted 8 months, during which time the wine went through malolactic. It was bottled unfined/unfiltered. While the previous Hintermen relied solely on Vidal blanc to provide counterpoint to the Petit Manseng, in 2021 we had access to older vine Riesling from the northern Shenandoah Valley. The Riesling and Vidal moderate the alcohol, especially in the drier, warm 2021 vintage where the Petit Manseng wanted to keep on ripening. The texture, density and color show the mark of Manseng, while the Vidal and Riesling contribute aromatically and reign the wine in a bit. But there is no denying this is a thick year for Hintermen, after all it is 70% PM, and we love that.

CHEMISTRY
pH: 3.36
TA: 6.5 g/L
Free SO2 at bottling: 8 ppm
Alcohol: 13.6% abv
RS: 1.7 g/L (0.17%)
Malic Acid: 0.05 g/L
Acetic acid at bottling: 0.59 g/L