King Family
Meritage
2021
Virginia, USA
Monticello AVA
Merlot 51%
Cabernet Franc 23%
Petit Verdot 23%
Malbec 3%
18 Months
New French oak 45%
Neutral oak 55%
Oak influence on flavor
Black cassis, Red cherry, Dried herbs, Nutmeg.
About
King Family 2021 Meritage
Reflecting our terroir and the essence of each vintage, our Meritage blends estate grown Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
This signature wine offers concentration, complexity, and age-worthy character and has proudly won the Virginia Governor’s Cup on several occasions.
The 2021 Meritage opens with layers of ripe dark fruits, red cherry, and plum unfold with dried herbs, leather, and earthy nuances, complemented by oak spice. Fine-grained tannins and lively acidity frame a long, contemplative finish.
A smooth, complex, and perfectly balanced Meritage that is begging for a decanter, and will really shine wine some aging.
A truly great example of why Virginia wines are gaining so much respect lately.
Pairings
In a Pinch
Just about any type of charcuterie and aged cheeses.
Deeper Dive
The point of this wine is elegance. Just because it’s the flagship wine of King Family, does not mean it’s the biggest.
As such, make sure to pair it with dishes that won’t overpower it, but at the same time avoid ones that might not show up at all.
Look toward the medium to medium (+) range of the pairing spectrum. Leaner cuts of meat like a NY strip, grilled lamb, or pork chops.
Stand out features: Smooth texture, red and black fruits, soft tannins.
Pairing Scale
This is a general guide to give you an idea where this wine falls in a spectrum of dish complexities.
Steer Clear
Anything too rich or fatty or too light and delicate. Also, leave the chocolate for the dessert wines since a dry wine like this will make the chocolate taste bitter.
Cheeses
Recipe Ideas
Service
Which glasses?
Go with large Bordeaux glasses if you have them, otherwise all-purpose works just fine.
Should I decant this?
Why "Yes"?
There’s way too much to unpack here to skip the decanter. Usually I would say you can get away with some swirling in the glass, but it would probably be an insult to this wine. If you don’t have anything to decant into, just make sure to really give it some time in your glass to open up.
How long?
Generally you would want to decant a younger wine for longer to help it open up and be cautious of exposing older wines to oxygen for too long. There are always exceptions of course, but this is a pretty good rule to follow.
Serving Temp
The correct serving temperature is important to show a wine’s true potential, but don’t stress over getting the temp exactly right. Use the chart below to try to get in the right ballpark.
Aging
When should I open this?
If a wine has been released by the producer and is available for sale, it means it is ready to drink. Wines don’t necessarily get “better” with age, they just change. Typically, this change involves things like losing fresh fruit flavors in exchange for more savory notes.
The moment you should open the bottle depends on your preference, so it’s more important to understand the evolution and the life span of the bottle than it is to try to time its opening perfectly. (It’s far better to open a bottle too early than too late.)
This bottle should probably be opened between:
2025 – 2037
Producer
ABOUT US
After moving to Charlottesville from Houston, Texas, in 1995, we purchased the original 327 acre farm in 1996. In late 1998, a young man named Tom Vandenberg, knocked on our door and asked if he could lease ten acres for a vineyard. Sparked by his curiosity and research, we did our homework, and soon hired a vineyard consultant. A nursery in California had a few extra vines, so six months of hard work later, our first eight acres of vines had been planted.
Initially the plan was to simply sell the fruit, but in the interest of learning as much as possible, we decided to make wine with a portion of the harvest and sell the rest. 480 cases in 2000 became 1,050 cases by 2001, and it all sold! After a quick visit to California for ideas, we designed our winery on the back of a napkin and by October 1, 2002 opened our real, honest-to-goodness winery. Since then both the vineyard and the business have grown.
OUR VINEYARDS
Situated in the heart of the Monticello AVA (American Viticultural Area), our farm is home to some of the best vineyard sites in Virginia. Only 16 miles from where Thomas Jefferson first planted European grape vines at his Charlottesville home, Monticello, we continue the centuries’ old viticultural traditions of Virginia.
From the original eight acres we planted in 1998, our vineyards have expanded to cover 46 acres. Located between 780 and 820 feet above sea level, the distinctive dyke-loam soils found in this part of Albemarle County, combined with a favorable aspect, help us grow exceptional fruit for distinctive wines.
THE LAND
MONTICELLO AVA
In recognition of the unique qualities imparted to grapes by their region of origin, wine growing areas have been defined and delimited in some manner for centuries. In the US, these regions are known as American Viticultural Areas. King Family Vineyards is located in the heart of one of Virginia’s premier wine regions: the Monticello AVA. This area is named in honor of Virginia’s first wine growing pioneer, Thomas Jefferson, and is home to over thirty wineries. While each vineyard is unique, we share a similar environment and face many of the same challenges. Experimentation of all kinds can be found throughout the AVA, but staple varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, and Viognier are widely grown.
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MEMBER BENEFITS
- TWO COMPLIMENTARY TASTINGS PER VISIT
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