2016 Knight's Challenge Chardonnay - CheckMate Artisanal Winery

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This is a classic Chardonnay with complex fruit, butter, grass, herbs and well integrated oak. The palate has an enticing mouthfeel, with river stone, peach and green tea notes.

Vintage: 2016
Vineyard: Sunset Vineyard, Black Sage Bench
Aromas & Texture: Exuberant + Enticing

CheckMate Artisinal Winery Knight's Challenge Chardonnay

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.

Learn more about Sunset Vineyard

"The fruit for this wine is from another Black Sage Road vineyard called the Sunset Vineyard. Even though it is just a few hundred yards south of Jagged Rock, it yields a much different Chardonnay. It begins with aromas of citrus and sage. The wine has a creamy entrance on the palate, revealing flavours of citrus, apple, stone fruits and butter."
94 points, John Schreiner

"Though not labeled as such, this is a vineyard selection from the Sunset Vineyard on the Black Sage Bench. Lively, spicy, fresh and textured, it bursts forth with apple and pear, then rolls across the palate with a streak of vanilla, some spring herbs and a pat of butter. Two-thirds was fermented with wild yeasts and half aged 16 months in new French oak."
94 points, Wine Enthusiast

2016 Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay

Sunset Vineyard

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