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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Little Pawn Chardonnay Barn Vineyardtext
93POINTS
17¼/20

CheckMate Artisanal Winery Little Pawn Chardonnay Barn Vineyard 2015

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLittle Pawn comes off the Okanagan Highlands foothills of the Black Sage Bench, just southeast of the town of Oliver. Jagged Rock Vineyards (nee The Barn Vineyard) was planted 20 years ago on a west-facing plateau along the Black Sage Bench. The vineyard has a warm, west-facing tilt and is planted to a mix of clones: Dijon 76 and the Dekleva selection, all grown with precision vertical shoot positioning at 374 to 380 meters above sea level. It's a singular micro‐terroir of very porous, fine‐grained sands with a spare capacity to hold moisture resulting in small bunches and highly concentrated flavours. This wine has an enticing floral aspect and a creamy, lees texture that draws you into the glass. The wine is bottled unfiltered, offering an array of spice, citrus and sagebrush. Again there is an unexpected elegance that keeps the mid-palate taut and lively. Lobster anyone?Tasted: 31 March 2019Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$110.00750mlwinery club members
Producer: CheckMate Artisanal WineryDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 81588UPC: 776545800107