CHECKMATE QUEEN TAKEN CHARDONNAY 750 ml

Description

From the sun-drenched slopes of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley comes CheckMate Queen Taken Chardonnay, a precise expression of old-vine fruit nurtured by CheckMate Artisanal Winery. Visionary Anthony von Mandl, creator of Mission Hill Family Estate, steers this dedicated venture toward Chardonnay and Merlot rooted in their exact origins. On the Golden Mile Bench, gravelly earth and generous light yield vines that capture the essence of place through restrained craft, native yeast activity, and exacting attention.

Let this Chardonnay draw you in with its pale gold shimmer. Scents rise of chilled lemon sorbet, sharp mineral edge, toasted cashews laced with salt, and soft white peach. Sip to meet an graceful cascade of layers: thick lemon curd, tender baked apple, faint almond pastry. Its medium-to-full build glides with satin smoothness, trailing into an extended close balanced by light wood influence and crisp acid lift. Wild yeasts drive the transformation in French oak, complemented by complete malolactic shift for depth that stays honed.

John Schreiner grants 95 points, Anthony Gismondi 93, and Wine Enthusiast 92, underscoring its finesse among Canadian Chardonnays. This bottle shines alongside butter-poached lobster, where richness intertwines seamlessly, or elevates roasted chicken draped in tarragon cream to new heights. Seared scallops swimming in lemon beurre blanc find perfect harmony here, the wine's nuance amplifying each bite.

CheckMate Queen Taken Chardonnay invites immediate pleasure while promising graceful development. Hailing from Canada's premier white wine terrain, it stands as a testament to site-driven purity in every 750 ml pour at 13.7% ABV. For those seeking an Okanagan Valley Chardonnay that marries power and poise, this selection delivers without compromise, ready to grace your table and linger in memory.

Note: Actual product appearance may vary due to manufacturer updates and packaging changes.