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Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng
Pearmund Cellars
United States - Virginia

Pearmund Cellars is the largest producer of Petit Manseng in the Country. The wine is produced from South River Vineyards in Green County, VA.

While Petit Manseng is not as well-known as other white Vitis vinifera grapes, it performs immaculately in Virginia’s climate. It is traditionally grown in southwest France where it is generally made into a dessert style wine. After this French region of Jurancon, Virginia holds the second largest plantings of the variety worldwide. The first Petit Manseng in America was grown and produced here in Fauquier county!

Lemon custard and pineapple are expressed on the nose. Balanced acidity on the palate combines with flavors of pineapple, guava and honey. This is the epitome of a ‘food wine’.

Specifications
Wine Type
White
Varietal(s)
100% Petit Manseng
Vinification
As harvest approaches Pearmund Cellars sample the vineyards and taste and analyze the fruit. With many varieties, as flavor and sugar increase, acidity typically drops off. This doesn't generally happen to the same extent with Petit Manseng allowing for more concentrated flavors. Petit Manseng is picked at optimal flavor ripeness then fermented cool and slow in stainless steel.
Production
1,000+ (9-liter cases)
Pairings

Fruit salads to Asian foods. Anything spicy. The acid cuts through the spice. Oysters and seafood with bright and fresh side dishes.

Reviews and News

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - Harvest Challenge

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - Harvest Challenge

harvest challenge logo
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL
"BEST IN VA"

 

 

  

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - American Wine Society

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - American Wine Society

america wine society logo

DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL
"BEST IN VA"

 

  

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - American Fine Wine Show

2020 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - American Fine Wine Show

afwc logoDOUBLE GOLD MEDAL
"BEST IN VA"

 

  

2019 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - SFIWC

2019 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Double Gold - SFIWC

sf double gold 2020

 

Double Gold - San Francisco International Wine Competiton 2020

 

 

 

2018 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 90 PTS - WA

2018 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 90 PTS - WA

wa89"The 2018 Petit Manseng "South River Vineyard" is unoaked, dry and comes in at 13.5% alcohol. In a tough year, Pearmund continues its string of fine Petit Mansengs. It has a nice touch with this grape. This powerful Petit Manseng has plenty of fruit, showing off the typical pineapple and grapefruit. There is the typical big acidity too. It is not, perhaps, quite as rich as some years, but it is dense and focused, and it finishes with a bang. It should have some potential to age—and to improve. This, in case you're not familiar with them, is not your simple sipper. - Mark Squires"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #249, June 30th 2020), 90 pts

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2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle

2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle

sf gold 2018Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

 

 

 

 

2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 92 PTS - JS

2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 92 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"A fascinating white offering cooked pears and apples and some lemon curd. Full-bodied and soft textured with a tasty finish. Drink now. Screw cap."
- James Suckling (October 2018), 92 pts

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2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 91 PTS - WA

2017 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 91 PTS - WA

wa91"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"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #237, June 2018), 91 pts

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2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Spirited Magazine

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Spirited Magazine

spiritedblack"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."
- Spirited - EAST COAST STANDOUTS: WINNING WINES FROM A LESSER-KNOWN REGION (April 2018)

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2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2018

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2018

sf gold 2018Gold Medal - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

 

 

 

 

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Best White Wine in Show - SFIWC

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - Best White Wine in Show - SFIWC

sfiwc logo"Best White Wine in Show" - San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Of the 4300 International Entrants in the SFIWC.
The first for a Virginia Wine.

 

 

 

 

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 89 PTS - WA

2016 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 89 PTS - WA

wa89"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"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #237, June 2018), 89 pts

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2015 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 92 PTS - WA

2015 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 92 PTS - WA

wa92"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

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2015 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 90 PTS - WA

2015 Pearmund Cellars Petit Manseng - 90 PTS - WA

wa90"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"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 224), 90 pts

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Producer Information: Pearmund Cellars

Pearmund Cellars is a 7,500 square foot geothermal winery and 25-acre vineyard located in the serene foothills of eastern Fauquier County, Virginia. Established in 1976, the estate has had active ...
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