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90POINTS
16½/20
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Black Rook Merlot 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaBlack Rook Merlot comes off the meagre sandy soils of the Black Sage Bench from a site pushed up tight against the Okanagan Highlands at 300+ metres above sea level. It is a single vineyard wine with small clusters and powerful fruit with a twist of finesse. The ’19 opens with juicy black cherry laced with licorice and subtle notes of roasted coffee. It is wild fermented, which seems to heighten the blueberry black cherry that could be considered wealthy, but with what winemaker Phil Magann terms light feet. The tannins are dense and chalky but should quickly dissipate through 2025. The blend in 2019 is 86/9/4/1/ merlot, petite verdot, cabernet franc, and malbec.Tasted: 10 January 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $95.00 | 750ml | winery direct, select private wine shops |
| BC | $220.00 | 1500ml | winery online/direct |
Grape: MerlotCSPC: 362684UPC: 776545803146
