Knights Gambit
Alexandra's Cuvee
2023
Virginia, USA
Monticello AVA
Petit Verdot 80%
Merlot 20%
8 Months
New American oak 25%
Neutral oak 75%
Oak influence on flavor
Bramble berry, Dark cherry, Chocolate, Violets.
About
Knights Gambit 2023 Alexandra’s Cuvee
The 2023 “Alexandra’s Cuvee” is a blend of 80% Petit Verdot, and 20% Merlot, which creates a rich, smooth, and dark fruit filled wine. Medium acidity and medium tannins make this very approachable and puts the focus on the ripe fruit and earthy, chocolaty tones that are typical of these two grapes.
We matured the wine in American oak to help round out the texture while adding some vanilla and coconut notes on the finish. The result is a well balanced, aromatic, and fruit forward wine that bursts out of the glass and continues to evolve beautifully.
Dark fruit, rich chocolate undertones, and a smooth, soft texture. This is a great wine for anyone who enjoys pronounced aromatics and complex tasting notes.
Pairings
In a Pinch
Blue cheeses.
Deeper Dive
The ripe, dark fruit is definitely the star in this wine. Black cherry, bramble berry and violets are apparent right out of the bottle, and they only grow in intensity as it opens up.
The tannins and acidity are both in the mid level range, so that should open up the pairing options nicely.
This wine is going to shine with red meat and steak sauces (not A1, but homemade) especially those that involve sautéed mushrooms.
Stand out features: Dark fruit, soft mouthfeel, medium 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 light well get easily overshadowed by this wine. Also, as much as this seems like chocolate would be a great pairing, save that for the dessert wines.
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 "Up to you"?
There’s a lot of complexity in this wine, but most of it comes right out up front. The fruit in this wine is super ripe, and it makes for an amazingly aromatic wine right out of the bottle.
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 – 2031
Producer
ABOUT US
Wine has woven itself into decades of our family’s culture and traditions. Thinking back on some of the most memorable times we have shared together, I can say with a fond confidence that wine was likely present. Our first vineyard was planted when my children were born and they would crush the years harvest in a tub with their bare feet. For holidays my father would sneak down to the cellar to uncover a dusty bottle of a perfect age and vintage, returning it to the table with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Now I can see a bottle of our family’s wine with my late daughter, Alexandra’s, artwork on the label being served in our Tasting Room.
FAMILY
There have been three generations of Summers born and raised on our farm in Charlottesville, deeply rooting our family to the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, green fields and the charming city of Mr. Jefferson. It is with this admiration for our home as well as the natural bounties it produces, that we set out to strengthen and maintain the wine culture of Virginia with our own vineyard, Knight’s Gambit.
With the support of my eldest Jordan and my partner Maggie, we truly are a family-run business.
THE LAND
My mother’s love of Thoroughbreds and the rolling hills of Albemarle County, prompted the purchase of our farm back in the 70’s. It wasn’t until 2003 that we planted the over five acres of Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that make up Knight’s Gambit Vineyard. We produced our first vintage in 2012 and opened the doors of our Tasting Room in 2016. Located in the Monticello AVA on a rolling hillside facing the Blue Ridge Mountains a short drive from Charlottesville, we are sure you will enjoy a relaxing glass of wine on our deck!
Interested in joining our wine club?
MEMBER BENEFITS
- 3 Bottle Member: 3 bottles of your choosing 2x per year | 10% discount year round | Complimentary glass of wine for members
- 6 Bottle Member: 6 bottles of your choosing 2x per year | 20% discount year round | Complimentary glass of wine for members
Our Wine Club is free to join. Pickups are in March & November at which time there will be a special party/event for members + guests. Membership includes free admission to the “Hurricane Parties” on the Sundays before Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as any other music events where there is an admission fee.
Contact
Knight’s Gambit Vineyard
218 Knole Farm Lane
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
(434) 260-9424
jordan@knightsgambitvineyard.com
