Tasted Feb 24th 2022

Note: Lighter than earlier Queen Taken I have tasted. At first I had over-chilled the bottle so it was very conservative at first. It slowly blossomed into something quite spectacular. Like a masked skilled dancer telling a rich story through perfectly executed and expressive movements.

First Impression: Pale lemon colour, bright and crisp showing some sense of viscosity

It’s gracefully fragrant

Flavours: notes of crushed apples, orange peel, pear, honeydew melon, grapefruit, jasmine, whipped cream, with hints of vanilla, white pepper, nougat, slate and smoke. It’s lighter in comparison with older vintage of Queen Taken, perhaps due to age and that 2018 is a cooler vintage.

Structure: Well balanced palate with complexity that’s not obvious at first but delivers in waves. It has medium+ acidity with medium+ body yet has a superb deliciously mineral finish.

Producer: Checkmate Artisanal Winery, Oliver, BC, Canada

Location: Dekleva Vineyard, Golden Mile Bench DVA

Elevation: 1188 ft - 1237 ft / 362 m - 377 m

Harvest: Hand-picked

Fermentation: 100% wild fermentation

Aging: 100% French oak (46% new); aged for 16 months

Clonal Selection: Dekleva, Old Wente

Technicals: 14.2% ABV / TA 5.89 / pH 3.33

Production: 9 Barrels

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