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Black Rook Merlot 2014, Oliver, BC - Checkmate Artisanal Winery


Tasted July 10th 2021

Note: Tasted this during our winery visit, even though the staffs helped making sure our kids were taken care of, I still had to multitask between tasting and keeping an eye on my kids. Hope I will taste it again with 100% of my attention.


First Impression: Bright ruby colour with a purple hue, evanescence nose of rose and black cherry.

Flavours: Fresh Black cherry, blue berry, cassis, black tea, mushroom, with hints of vanilla and oak spices.

Structure: Lots of rich, firm tannins with medium and balancing acidity, medium plus body and a long juicy finish.


Producer: Checkmate Artisanal Winery, Oliver, BC, Canada

Location: Black Sage Bench

Elevation: 1043 ft - 1339 ft / 318 m - 408 m

Harvest: Hand-picked, sorted, and destemmed

Fermentation: 100% Wild ferment with extended skin contact

Aging: 100% New French Oak for 21 months

Technicals: 14.5% ABV / TA 6.2 / pH 3.69

Production: 17 Barrels

Read more on “The Way We Taste” to learn more about how we evaluate wines.