Today we share an outstanding producer out of Virginia. Early Mountain has produced a beautiful range of new wines. Owner Jean Case is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation. Case had a prominent career in the private sector, being a former senior executive at AOL and started Early Mountain back in 2012. , spanned nearly two decades before co-founding the Case Foundation in 1997.
Winemaker and viticulturist Maya Hood White is a native Californian, who earned an M.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, with her research focusing on time-dependent sensory profiles and bubble nucleation of sparkling wine, as well as studies of Viognier wines from France, California and Virginia. She has formerly worked at some excellent Virginian producers before serving as winemaker.
I loved the new wines across the board. Check out the 2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng (OB, 92) which is very concentrated and shows a great mineral backbone. Absolutely delicious was the 2020 Early Mountain ‘Eluvium’ Red Wine (OB, 92) which has a great core of black fruits and chocolate. Learn more about this great Virginian producers at https://www.earlymountain.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Early Mountain wines.
2022 Early Mountain ‘Pur’ White Wine- A proprietary blend, the 2022 ‘Pur’ offers bright pear and citrus fruit flavors alongside orange blossom and shades of green apple on the palate. Fresh and lively, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity, enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng- Brightly colored in the glass, the 2021 Early Mountain Petit Manseng shows off rich Macadamia nut aromas alongside wild mushroom, white tea leaf and shades of starfruit on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with a smooth texture and plenty of bright acidity. Drink 2023-2030- 92
2022 Early Mountain ‘Quaker Run’ Rose- This 2022 Rose of Merlot comes from old vine plantings in the eastern portion of the estate vineyard. Brightly colored, this offers plenty of mouth-watering acidity with layers of pretty red fruits, orange zest and shades of cardamom on the palate. Drink 2023-2028- 90
2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc- Herbal and nicely weighted, the 2022 Early Mountain Cabernet Franc displays bright red raspberry, garrigue and bing cherry flavors with a smooth texture on the palate. This is delicious wine to enjoy now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 91
2020 Early Mountain ‘Eluvium’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Eluvium’ combines 75% Merlot with the remainder Petit Verdot. Soft and well-balanced, this offers good concentration and weight, with lovely black tea and garrigue notes from the Petit Verdot. With more air dark chocolate shavings and blackberry pie flavors mingle well with the smooth texture. Finishing long, this is delicious wine that will live on for another decade. Drink 2023-2033- 92