Maison Shaps

Michael Shaps

Wild Meadow Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

This bottle was significantly better than the previous bottle I had… Fabulous mouthfeel, and fruit — 3 months ago

Maison Shaps

Les Clous Aligoté 2019

Lovely and bright! Well balanced. — 2 years ago

Hamlet Vineyards

Petit Verdot 2017

Yummmm, the poetic potential of PV is on display here. Solid build by Shaps team of a really special estate program near Fieldale-Collinsville. Classic and varietally correct! Not heavy-handed, rather more feminine in the same way CF can have a softer side. — 4 years ago

Michael Shaps

Merlot 2008

Spectacular at 15.5 years from harvest. Acid and tannin structure are in fabulous balance. Black cherry and dark raspberry dance with thyme and sweet anise. easily one of the finest Virginia single varietals I’ve ever had! — a year ago

The Barns at Hamilton Station

Chardonnay 2016

Class…Shaps understands Chardonnay as well as anyone on the east coast. Barrel Fermented and aged. Wow….again :) — 3 years ago

Michael Shaps

Meritage Monticello Cabernet Franc Blend 2016

Linear yet elegant…dense, darker red fruit carries balance thru the attack into a medium+ weighted finish (think artisan cola) - highlighting fine grain tannins. Fall Herbs lend subtle accent to polished build. Oak is not intrusive The 2016 Meritage is a blend of 45% Merlot, 28% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of the fruit came from Rougemont vineyard in Keswick, VA, with the remainder coming from Adventure Farm, Wild Meadow, Carter's Mountain, and Honah Lee. The grapes are fermented with natural yeast in stainless steel tanks and then barrel aged in 54% new French oak individually and blended for a total of 21 months. We believe that the Bordeaux blends produce some of Virginia's best and most expressive wines. The 2016 Meritage blend is a reflection of what we strive for in both the grape growing and winemaking. — 4 years ago

Alex, Laura and 3 others liked this

Michael Shaps

Meritage Virginia Red Blend 2015

Andrew Holod
9.0

I believe in this vintage that the appellation is simply Virginia, not Monticello.
Delicious, Bordeaux inspired red blend. It shares a new world ripeness and generosity with a leafy, mildly herbal old world note.
— 2 years ago

Tom and Ericsson liked this

Michael Shaps

Carter's Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019

Among the Top 5 annually BEST CF’s in the old dominion. Rich but not over bearing or over-extracted. Fresh and energetic acid carry thru to the mid-palate, while enough wood tannin cleans up for the long red fruited jet stream. Ready for any culinary challenge, yet so sophisticated it can be sipped with marvel! — 3 years ago

Michael Shaps

Monticello Tannat 2016

Ahh, varietally correct tannat :) While a little thin in the late-palate finish, there is a richness on the attack that make for a raised eyebrow. One could see a 93-4pt gem if this was blended with 30% PV. Nevertheless, a fab expression of varietal that make Virginia shine. — 4 years ago

Milissa, Ericsson and 3 others liked this