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91POINTS
16¾/20
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Opening Gambit Merlot 2013
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe original release of Opening Gambit and its Osoyoos East Bench fruit tucked right up against the US border made quite a statement. The steep and undulating site pitches the vines to the sun, creating a more opulent style of merlot. It was an eye-opener for many, given merlot's poor reputation in BC at the time. It still has excellent volume, offering rich black fruits with well-managed oak. Dry and savoury are its selling points, and if it shows a touch of rusticity, it remains in excellent shape after six years. It should be considered a pioneering label that has evolved since 2013, both in this bottle and succeeding vintages. It is at its peak, and now would be the time to drink it. This wine was tasted on February 4 as part of a four-year vertical featuring the 2013-2014-2015 and 2016 Opening Gambit.Tasted: 04 February 2020Tasted by: Prices:| BC | $85.00 | 750ml | winery club members |
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 408161UPC: 776545800268
