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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
CheckMate Artisanal Winery Little Pawn Chardonnay Jagged Rock Vineyardtext
94POINTS
17½/20

CheckMate Artisanal Winery Little Pawn Chardonnay Jagged Rock Vineyard 2020

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaLittle Pawn tends to be the group’s most reductive, coming off the now highly acclaimed Jagged Rock Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. It is 88 percent fermented wild and entirely barrel aged in 53 percent new French oak for 16 months. Dijon 76, with its abundant stone fruit, makes up more than half the blend, while interestingly, it is joined by the Dekleva clone that, here on the sands of the Black Sage Bench, takes on more licorice and black sage, upping the complexity of this label. In its final year of organic certification, the alcohol comes at a fabulous 13.6. Changing viticulture and irrigation techniques have further reduced the crop, which is now self-limiting its yields, intensifying its vibrant nose of rosewater, peach blossoms and melon, followed by an intriguing palate of peach, bitter lime, and green tea, dusted in fennel and mineral sea salt. Fresh and elegant, this is Next World chardonnay. Unfortunately, only 17 barrels were made.Tasted: 17 November 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$110.00750mlwinery online/direct
BC$250.001500mlwinery online/direct
BC$620.003000mlwinery online/direct
BC$1300.00750mlwinery online/direct
Producer: CheckMate Artisanal WineryDistributors: Mark Anthony Wines and Spirits
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 457297UPC: 776545802828