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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Fool's Mate Chardonnaytext
93POINTS
17¼/20

CheckMate Artisanal Winery Fool's Mate Chardonnay 2019

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaTime has taught us the Fool's Mate ageing window is now in the 7-10 year range, and 2019 will fit right into that box. Fool's Mate is also the only Chardonnay that is a blend of sites, grabbing fruit from Jagged Rock Vineyard, Black Sage Bench 42%, Sunset Vineyard, Black Sage Bench 34%, Dekleva Vineyard, Golden Mile Bench-DVA 16%, Border Vista Vineyard, Osoyoos East Bench 5% and Combret Vineyard, Golden Mile Bench-DVA 3%. In ’19, the clonal mix expanded to Dijon 76, Dijon 95, Old Wente, Dekleva and Combret. The complexity comes in many shades, and in this case, mixed sites and clones bring mystery to this wine. About 60 percent of the organically grown fruit, certified in 2021, is wild fermented, while the ageing over 16 months takes place in 29 barrels (42 percent new) and a single concrete egg. The nose is a mix of peaches and pears with a citrus, wet stone undercurrent. The flavours are more pear and nectarine and highly polished this year. It is less reductive and sports a marine sea salt finish. Impressive at 13.6 percent alcohol.Tasted: 10 January 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$95.00750mlwinery direct, restaurants, select private wine shops
BC$200.001500mlwinery online/direct
BC$485.003000mlwinery online/direct
BC$985.006000mlwinery online/direct
Producer: CheckMate Artisanal WineryDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 457209UPC: 776545802989