Knight's Gambit Vineyard

February 23, 2024.  We had one more stop on our Friday travels: a drive through the country about a half an hour from Septenary to Knight’s Gambit Vineyard in a very rural part of Charlottesville.  The name “Knight’s Gambit” comes from a short story by William Faulkner that was well-loved by his daughter Jill Faulkner Summers.  Mr. Faulkner lived nearby the property that Jill and her husband bought in the 1970’s.  Their son, Paul Summers, William Faulkner’s grandson, planted grapes on the property in 2003 and, with partner Maggie Duensing, opened the winery in 2016.  

                                                                                       Maggie Duensing

We had a nice visit with Maggie on a dreary Friday afternoon and picked up some background info.  Knight’s Gambit has around seven acres under vine at the Charlottesville location and five more acres in the Lake Anna area where they grow Chardonnay and Petit Verdot.  They produce around 1,000 cases annually using the custom crush facilities of King Family Winery.  There is no production on site.  You might find Knight’s Gambit wine at the Charlottesville Wegmans. 

                                                                                     Photo from TripAdvisor

The tasting room and outbuildings are proudly solar powered with the added ambiance of fireplaces inside and heaters outside for the cooler months.  Inside, it is a living room atmosphere.  Most seating outside is on the porch or the lawn where you can have picnics listening to the featured live music.  Across the dirt road the vines slope lazily down hills to the trees.  They can accommodate special events in the barn space next door.

Knight’s Gambit is only offering six wines for tasting and on its website.  Maggie told us that they are planning to release a fortified wine next year – so you Port lovers - be on the look-out for that.  We sampled four of the six current releases:

2021 Chardonnay – Maggie’s Vineyard.  Kim rated this wine an A-.  Medium-bodied with some minerality.  No butter.  We bought a bottle.

2021 Domaine Finot Cabernet Franc.  This is noted as a “natural” wine produced using native yeast, no sulfur, and minimal intervention.  As noted, this is a King Family product.  Some pepper.  Rated B.

2021 Meritage.  This blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot presents some dark fruit and managed tannins.  I noted “austere.”  Reasonably priced for a Meritage. Rated B

2021 Petit Verdot – Alexandra’s Cuvée.  Light for a Petit Verdot.  Cherry fruit, mild tannins, good finish   I rate it a B+ and bought a bottle.

Knight’s Gambit is a worthwhile stop heading north and west from Charlottesville.  It stands away from the clump of Afton Mountain wineries.

 

 

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