CheckMate Artisanal Winery – creating outstanding wines of British Columbia

An invitation to an exclusive tasting of CheckMate Artisanal Winery wines is an opportunity to taste some of the most outstanding wines of British Columbia. CheckMate makes only two varietals of wine: Chardonnay and Merlot. It is clear that this focus on only two kinds of wine is a road to success for CheckMate.

CheckMate wines consistently rate very highly by distinguished wine reviewers. I don’t think there is a BC wine reviewer more revered or trusted than John Schreiner. Throughout this feature on the wines of CheckMate all ratings are courtesy of John Schreiner.

The evening was a very exciting one for lovers of CheckMate wines; for one, there were many new releases available for tasting. Of course to truly experience the nuances of the wines, pairing is paramount. Kudos to Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio – False Creek for the delightful food pairings.

During the evening we had a choice of tasty bites, some typical and some more inventive that elevated the experience of tasting the wines. The wines of CheckMate are made to pair with food, be it oysters on the half shell or a five course dinner these are the wines that will define your meal. We started with a Welcome Wine of 2014 CheckMate Capture Chardonnay.

2014 Capture Chardonnay

The nature ferment contributes a lifted, aromatic, complex nose. The palate opens with apple, mandarin, spice and creamy stone fruits yet remains delicate with a long finish. 94

2015 Fool’s Mate Chardonnay

A blend of three unique ‘climats’, this wine showcases all that can be achieved when three distinct vineyard sites are brought together.

An extremely complex wine with aromas of yellow peach, melon, perfume, and caramelized oak with hints of graphite. The palate has a rich entry with flavours of peach, apricot and almond croissant. It maintains richness throughout its length, backed by fresh acidity and a salty finish.

Barrel aging: 85% French Oak (46% new); 15% concrete egg, 16 months in oak & concrete. Hand picked at night.

2015 Queen’s Advantage Chardonnay

Deep, rocky soils and old gnarly vines combine to create a wine with intense bouquet of passion fruit, papaya and lemon blossom. The palate explodes in the mouth, being round and fleshy, let silky all at the same time.

2015 Attack Chardonnay

Winemaking and founder combine to impart aromas of the seashore with wet stones, flint and Asian spices on the nose combined with a tropical lift. The palate has a zesty entry, with a hint of richness and minerals followed by a lingering flavour of lychee, ginger, spice and saltwater.

2015 Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay

This is a classic Chardonnay with complex powerful fruit, buttery notes and well integrated oak.The palate has an enticing mouthfeel, mineralogy and green tea notes.

2015 Little Pawn Chardonnay

The low vigour soils of BlackSage Bench self-limit these vines, creating balance and producing a wine of layerpd complexity.

Captivating floral nose with hints of rose petal, cinnamon spice and lemon zest. On the plate, subtle richness, hints of cream and beautiful oak integration create a wine of restrained elegance, with substantial length.

100% French oak (47% new), 16 months in oak. Hand picked at night.

100

“The wine begins with lifted notes recalling citrus, orange and vanilla. The bright acidity gives the wine a lifted freshness. A lovely purity of fruit on the palate and a lingering finish. It is impossible to find anything negative about this wine” – John Schreiner

2014 Little Pawn

The wine is bold and rich, both in aroma and on the palate. The floral and citrus aromas lead to intense flavours that are buttery, with hints of citrus and vanilla. The finish of this satisfying wine persists.

2013 Little Pawn

The wine has a striking floral aroma with subtle hints of citrus and well integrated oak on the palate. The wine is exceptionally elegant.

(Little Pawn – Member Exclusives)

2015 End Game Merlot

Blending the best soils and sites of Osoyoos East Bench and Black Bench this wine showcases the warmer eastern side of the Okanagan Valley.

A complex, lifted noise, showcasing sassafras, licorice, spices, deep red fruits and vanilla. The palate is rich, with savoury notes, good weight, firm tannins and immense length.

Hand picked, sorted and destemmed. 21 months in 100% new French oak

(member exclusive)

2015 Silent Bishop Merlot

Showcasing the cooler western side of the Okanagan Valley, with diverse soils, aspects and sun exposures spread across three Benches (Oliver, North Golden Mile and Osoyoos West)

21 months in French oak (100% new). Hand-picked, sorted and destemmed.

(member exclusive)

2014 Opening Gambit Merlot

An elegant noise of blackcurrant and black fruits with creamy undertones and floral notes. The plate is charming, with dark, ripe fruits, supple tannins and well integrated oak.

2014 Black Rook Merlot

A lifted noise of roses, aniseed and bramble fruit. The palate is rrich with dark fruits, cassis and savoury tannins coating the mouth.

This was a truly wonderful occasion of wine tasting and wine pairing. An evening of other CheckMate wine lovers and the opportunity to share our wine experiences with like minded individuals. The discussions were lively and sometimes amusing. Although everyone has their own personal favourites it can be interesting to hear why and which wines are others top picks. It is always good to have an open mind and try a wine or wine pairing that you haven’t experienced before and be open to suggestion. Each wine tasting can be a new learning experience.

If you have not yet experienced the wines of CheckMate then I encourage you to visit the winery and their installation tasting room (a new tasting room is underway). Prices range from $80. – $125. for 750 ml bottles; 1.5 litre bottles also available. Being a wine club member has it’s benefits and is highly recommended. To stay up to date on events, promotions and announcements from the winery subscribe to receive their newsletters.

Individual bottles are sold in cases of 3. Please ensure your order is a minimum of 3 bottles, in any configuration of your choice, to prevent a delay in shipping. Prices do not include taxes.

About CheckMate Artisanal Winery

The von Mandl family began their journey over 40 years ago. The first sign of the real potential of the vineyards came in 1994 with a surprise win at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London for ‘Top Chardonnay in the World.’ The family has developed exceptional vineyards with distinctive Chardonnay and Merlot clones, some of which are now over 40 years old, at what are now CheckMate Artisanal Winery vineyards.

The region is the ecologically pristine Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada, north of the 49th parallel and 105 miles long. Glacial fed lakes stretch along a narrow valley floor at an altitude of more than 1200 feet. As the world warms, cool regions such as the Okanagan Valley provide a new frontier for world class Chardonnay and Merlot. Cooler regions are now consistently providing sufficient warmth during their growing seasons to fall within the climatic envelopes for these classic Burgundian and Bordeaux varietals.

About the Winemaker

Australian-born lawyer turned intellectual Winemaker, Philip McGahan, left Williams Selyem in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma, to take up the challenge at CheckMate Artisanal Winery. At CheckMate, everything is tended to by hand: all the canopy management, leaf-pulling and cluster-thinning is done manually to ensure precision and gentleness.

Phil set out to make sophisticated Chardonnays and Merlots by meticulously focusing on family-owned and farmed estate vineyards, relentlessly studying and researching rows within them to define micro-blocks. These sites, natural yeasts and artisanal winemaking resulted in a collection of remarkable Chardonnays and outstanding Merlots. He let nature take its course, with no fining or filtration to allow for the full potential of flavour expression.

Visit

The Installation, A Pop-up by Tom Kundig is now open for tastings.

Please visit us at CheckMate Artisanal Winery 4799 Wild Rose Street, Oliver, BC.

Tutored tastings available daily at 11:00am-4:00pm or by appointment through Spring; March 16th to May 2nd.

To book an appointment, please complete the request form or call 250-707-2299. You will receive an email confirmation or alternate time options, should your requested time be unavailable. Please allow 60 minutes for your tasting experience. Tasting fees may apply and are redeemable with purchase. In an effort to provide an exceptional experience to all our guests, please leave your pets at home.

Tasting notes and feature image courtesy of CheckMate Artisanal Winery. The evening was complimentary for me and a guest. All opinions are my own.

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