"The 2015 Petit Manseng "South River Vineyard" was recently seen, but I was interested to see what would happen to it with a few months in bottle. It does seem quite different. The fruity aspects have calmed, folding into the whole, while the structure is now more impressive. Don't misunderstand--it is rather unctuous and succulent, but those aren't the dominating features any more. It seems sterner and drier, but the backbone and the finish seem far better. It is more focused and complex, completely transparent now, too, with a big, tense finish. It is a much more interesting food wine now than a porch-sipper. The question now is simply whether it will settle in for a while or keep becoming more austere. The first missing layer of baby fat wasn't missed, in other words. Losing it might have helped--this acquired some gravitas. Stage two will tell the rest of the story. Still, I have to lean up now instead of being conservative. Important tip: Don't drink it too cold. It kept getting better as it warmed. This isn't light and simple. - Mark Squires"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 226), 92 pts
"The 2015 Petit Manseng "South River Vineyard" is unoaked. It comes in with eight grams per liter of residual sugar and 13.5% alcohol. Fruity and off dry, this is a beautifully balanced Petit Manseng. It tastes great. It is easy to love. It is fresh and glorious in its youth--but in a restrained way. Apricots wash over your palate as it sits there. It isn't short of flavor, in other words, but nothing hits you over the head, either. I was trying think of what I liked best about this. Some of the Petit Mansengs in this report stand out for their energy, power or richness. Ultimately, I think what stands out here is its perfect balance. Nothing stands out. It is easy to drink, ripe and tasty and wonderfully fresh. It may not have quite the aging potential of some--we'll see. I'm also not sure I want it to lose what it does best here--be young and fresh. Drink it now and you and your friends will find your appreciation of this growing with every sip. - Mark Squires"
"The 2016 Petit Manseng "South River Vineyard" is bone dry, unlike last year's (which had a modest 12 grams) and unoaked. It comes in with just 2.2 grams of sugar, 10.7 of total acidity and 14.5% alcohol. This is sprightly and lively, with beautiful grip on the finish. Despite the initial impression of delicacy, it is solid in the mid-palate. The flavors of grapefruit and pineapple pop on the finish, nicely lifted by the acidity. Under screwcap, this might age very well. I would like to see a little more complexity as it develops. The winemaker reports that a 2012 was perfect recently, so it certainly has time. - Mark Squires"
"Best White Wine in Show" - San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
"Made with 100% Petit Manseng, this wine is a lovely dry white which exudes pineapple and white flowers on the nose, followed by kiwi, citrus, and pineapple flavors and a medium mouthfeel with a long, crisp finish. This vinifera grape, originally from the Jurancon area in southern France, has loose clusters, thick skins, and very small berries, making it quite disease resistant. It’s also fairly cold hardy compared to most other viniferas, and can be produced in both dry and off-dry versions with success. Winery founder Chris Pearmund has helped to start and consulted regarding the development of a significant number of wineries in central Virginia."
"The 2017 Petit Manseng "South River Vineyard" is unoaked and very dry, like the 2016, and comes in at 13.5% alcohol. The pineapple and grapefruit are even more prominent on the finish here than on the 2016. This 2017 is simply bursting with flavor, yet it's dry. It is very fresh and solid in the mid-palate—probably a bit more than the 2016—with similar grip. This looks like a big success for Pearmund. Admittedly, it is young and needs to prove its stuff in the cellar, but it seems like a winner. Bottled about five weeks before tasting, this is for sale now, although it is not yet technically released. - Mark Squires"