2016 End Game is a rich and concentrated expression of ultra premium Okanagan Merlot.
93+ pts wine review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery End Game Merlot 2016
wine review: 93 points – CheckMate Silent Bishop (Merlot) 2017
93 points - CheckMate's Silent Bishop (Merlot) 2017.
wine review: CheckMate Opening Gambit (Merlot) 2016
CheckMate's talented winemaker, Phil McGahan, continues to deliver outstanding world-class wines each and every vintage, and 2016 is another star!
wine review: CheckMate Opening Gambit 2015
CheckMate continues to showcase Canada's ability to produce world-class wines worthy of great acclaim, wines that shine alongside peers from Napa, Tuscany, and Bordeaux.
#wine review: Burrowing Owl Merlot 2016
Burrowing Owl's 2016 Merlot shows the richness and balance of the 2016 vintage. Loads of rich blackberry, black currant, cherry, plum, smoky bacon, dried fruits and chocolate on the nose and palate. Super expressive, this beautifully balanced and very full-bodied wine shows great elegance too with it's fine integrated tannins and soft mouthfeel making it a wonderful wine to enjoy with a wide range of dishes from wood-fired pizza, to roasts, to BBQ burgers and ribs. Try with spicy pork tenderloin with cherry-thyme pan sauce - a perfect pairing all year round! Tasted June 2020. 92 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca
wine review: 2016 Culmina Merlot – an outstanding quality wine at a great price!
Ottawa, ON November 2020 Matt's review: Culmina's Merlot showcases just how complex and interesting the Okanagan's signature varietal can be, especially those sourced from the prestigious Golden Mile Bench. Rich and intense black fruit, black plum, Okanagan Black Sage, dried herbs, with a hint of cacao and graphite on the nose. Huge structure with grippy... Continue Reading →
wine review: Burrowing Owl Meritage 2017
Ottawa, ON August 2020 Matt's review: Meritage 2017, Burrowing Owl's flagship wine, is a blend of (59%) Cabernet Sauvignon, (20%) Merlot, (18%) Cabernet Franc, and (3%) Petit Verdot, all estate grown from their Oliver-based winery in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. Vinified and barrel-aged separately for 15 months in a blend of French and... Continue Reading →
wine review: CheckMate End Game Merlot 2014
Ottawa, ON April 2020 Matt's review: CheckMate Artisanal Winery produces world-class Chardonnay and Merlot from their Golden Mile Bench winery situated in Canada’s wine capital, Oliver, BC. 2014 End Game is a rich and concentrated expression of ultra premium Okanagan Merlot. Sourced from the Osoyoos East Bench and Black Sage Bench in the heart of... Continue Reading →
#wine review: Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 – Napa Valley
Ottawa, ON April 2019 Matt's review: A blend of 81% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec from Napa Valley's renowned Oakville, Rutherford, and Oak Knoll District regions. A textbook Napa Cab nose, with dark plum, black currant, graphite, cedar hedge, sous-bois, and pepper showing the complexity and elegance of this big wine.... Continue Reading →
wine review: Black Sage Vineyard 2015 Merlot – available at LCBO October 13 – $28.95
Ottawa, ON September 2018 Matt's review: Black Sage Vineyard 2015 Merlot: Deep ruby red, the nose shows dark plum, stewed cherries, mocha, smoky notes, and its namesake in spades, Black Sage - a hallmark of fine Okanagan Merlot. Silky smooth and very inviting with layers of dark chocolate, plum, and black cherry persisting on the... Continue Reading →
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