One of the best wines I’ve tasted from this winery. Straw-coloured with a spicy, barnyard nose signalling evident oak; more expressive on the palate with a spicy, green-pineapple flavour that lingers long.
Pale gold. Beguiling notes of sweet pear, fresh citrus and a hint of honey over chalky notes. Delicate acidity with a round and full mouth feel. Fruity taste but a tad bitter in the long finish. Great at this stage, so don’t wait too long.
Floral, citrus, piquant green herb and a whiff of almond on the nose shift to green fruit with a suggestion of ripe pear flavour on the medium-weight palate. Finishes with a distinct touch of bitter almond. Drink soon.
Straw yellow. Ripe nose with delicate citrus notes over well-dosed fine oak, hints of white flowers. Grassy notes develop in the glass. The vivid acidity is in contrast with the mellow richness brought by the oak. The intense flavour has finesse and persistence. Aging potential of 3-4 years.
A new winery venture from Mission Hill’s Anthony von Mandl, specializing in Chardonnay. Straw colour with a minerally, citrus, apple bouquet; rich, spicy peach flavour with a floral note. Lovely mouthfeel, well-integrated oak with precise acidity, ending on a butterscotch note. The most Burgundian in style of the 5 CheckMate Chardonnays.
Hazy amber colour with dried orange citrus and nutty, yeasty aromas. Lightly sweet citrus fruit flavour shows spicy and raisiny overtones with gentle nutty bitterness on the finish. An easy-to-like brew with plenty of flavour.
Kudos to winemaker Jean-Pierre Colas for turning in this top-notch Cab Sauv! Mint, cassis, cinnamon, violets, earth and vanilla are all in play in this full-bodied red. Still youthful and tannic, it requires some cellaring to let it express its full potential. Drink from 2020-2028.