A Milestone Birthday (or any Birthday really) is a great excuse to open a special bottle of wine. CheckMate is often a part of celebrations in our household, like this past weekend when my husband celebrated the 20th anniversary of his 30th Birthday!
2017 Silent Bishop Merlot $85.00
CheckMate produces four unique expressions of Merlot: Black Rook, End Game, Opening Gambit and Silent Bishop. Silent Bishop showcases several cooler vineyard sites located in Oliver North, the Golden Mile Bench and the Osoyoos West Bench. The grapes were hand-picked, sorted and destemmed prior to undergoing wild fermentation with extended skin contact. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels (100% new).
This Merlot is still very much in its youth, but we savored it after a long decant. It has an intoxicating nose of ripe, black cherries, black plums, licorice pastels, carnation and sweet spice. This is a dry red wine that is medium+ in body with high acidity and medium+, fine, grippy tannins. The palate offers black cherry, black plum, liquorice, sweet spice and savory tobacco with a lingering finish.
CheckMate Artisanal Winery is opened for tastings with a reservation and they are currently offering complimentary shipping on all wine orders.