2017 Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay

This is an enticing Chardonnay with lychee, green tea, herbal aromas, complexed by creamy notes, butter and spice. The palate is textural with hints of ginger, clove and herbs.

 

Vintage
2017
Vineyard
Sunset Vineyard, Black Sage Bench
Aromas & Texture
Exuberant + Enticing
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CheckMate Artisinal Winery Knight's Challenge Chardonnay
  • 93 Points Wine Enthusiast

Sunset Vineyard

Situated south of Jagged Rock Vineyard and perfectly aligned with a gap in the range across the valley, this vineyard basks in the sun late into the evening. Thirty years ago, we planted Dijon clones 76 & 95 on soils formed by glacial meltwaters. 

The vines grow in gravelly sand, and the site slopes to the southwest. This warm exposure and highly porous soils produce classic Chardonnay that exudes character. 

"It begins with aromas of orange, guava and vanilla, leading to buttery flavours of citrus and tropical fruit. The creamy texture gives the wine richness and good length.It begins with aromas of orange, guava and vanilla, leading to buttery flavours of citrus and tropical fruit. The creamy texture gives the wine richness and good length."

95 points, John Schreiner

"A vineyard selection from the Sunset Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench, this is fresh and spicy, with a light, peppery cast. Complex and textural, it mixes lychee, green tea, apple, white peach and light barrel flavors. Two-thirds was fermented with wild yeast, and the wine was aged 16 months in 44% new French oak."

93 points, Wine Enthusiast

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Our members receive guaranteed allocations of wine selected by our winemaker, Spencer Kelly. We release our wines twice a year. Members always receive priority allocations of new releases.

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