2015 Knight’s Challenge Chardonnay

This is a classic Chardonnay with complex powerful fruit, buttery notes and well integrated oak. The palate has an enticing mouthfeel, minerality and green tea notes.

 

Vintage
2015
Vineyard
Sunset Vineyard, Black Sage Bench
Aromas & Texture
Exuberant + Enticing
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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. 

"CheckMate’s 2015 Knight’s Challenge (100% Chardonnay from the Sunset Vineyard along the Black Sage Bench) shows fresh tropical fruit, melon, Meyer Lemon, with a chalky minerality. Elegant, textured, and beautifully balanced, the palate shows an abundance of citrus, tropical, and exotic fruits, with hints of sweet banana chips and vanilla bean crème brûlée."

94 points, Matt Steeves, Quercus Vino

"Hints of green with a herbal nose. Crisp, racy and tangy with green apple, rich and elegant with a lengthy finish."

94 points, Anthony Dias Blue

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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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