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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Capture Chardonnay Border Vista Vineyardtext
90POINTS
16½/20

CheckMate Artisanal Winery Capture Chardonnay Border Vista Vineyard 2013

Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe fruit is grown at the Border Vista Vineyard, a single block planted in 1997 to the Dijon clone 76, in Osoyoos, not all that far from the Mission Hill Perpetua Chardonnay block. The final blend comes from a 50/50 mix of two-barrel lots; one is fermented naturally, the other via inoculation with selected yeast. One hundred percent goes through malolactic fermentation with battonage. McGahan describes the style as "Running on the edge, it is not a safe wine, but it encapsulates what we are trying to do." The nose is lightly aromatic, the palate is spare and lean but with a fine citrus theme and minerality and just enough orange rind to suggest it might be richer than you think. The finish is long and persistent but understated. It's barely showing its real face but will blossom in time in the bottle. It reminds me a bit of the Perpetua style. Captured has a double meaning here; it's not just the chess. It speaks to the vineyard tucked up against the border – it can't go anywhere. The wine is aged 18 months in oak (53 percent new) but is bottled unfiltered and unfined to keep it fresh. 190 cases.Tasted: 19 October 2015Tasted by: Prices:
BC$90.00750mlwinery club members
Producer: CheckMate Artisanal WineryDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 675280UPC: 776545800145