Drink This: Early Mountain Vineyards 2021 Young Wine White
The semi-intentional exploration of Eastern vidal continues
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When I kicked off white hybrid grape month last week, I didn’t plan for it to become such a fascinating exploration of vidal blanc, but here we are.
Early Mountain Vineyards 2021 Young Wine White ($24*) is another savory-edged example, but in a completely different way from the Chaddsford I wrote about the other day.
When I think of “young wine” styles — from EMV or elsewhere — I think about fruity, clean, unoaked wines intended to be refreshing rather than for contemplation. Past iterations of this wine have fit within that categorization, but this one is a bit outside of that box. With complete malolactic fermentation, extended lees contact, some skin contact on part of the blend, and eight months in a mix of stainless steel and neutral oak, this is a wine of texture and complexity and not-just-fruity flavors.
Fruity aromas of macerated peaches and dried pineapple are layered with notes of white tea, dried citrus peel, and dried herbs. It’s botanical enough to almost edge into vermouth-like.
The lighter-bodied palate is similarly savory with some stony minerality and a light saline streak to go with dried herbs and tea qualities. Citrus peel and peach flavors are background notes but do step forward at the end of a medium finish. The acidity is bright, and that light dose of skin contact brings some gentle tannins, too.
This definitely isn’t your typical entry-level summer sipper
Early Mountain Vineyards 2021 Young Wine White
Region: Virginia
ABV: 11.4%
RS: .8 g/L
pH: 3.36
Rating: 88 pts
Price: $24* (Available Here)
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*sample provided by winery