CheckMate Artisanal Winery Queen Taken Chardonnay 2022 (750ml)
Only 24 in stock
Tasting Note
The 2022 Queen Taken Chardonnay offers an elegant combination of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, and subtle oak complexity. Aromas of white peach, golden apple, Meyer lemon, and pear are complemented by notes of toasted hazelnut, vanilla, and delicate baking spice. The palate is rich yet beautifully balanced, with a creamy texture, refreshing acidity, and a distinctive mineral character. Layers of citrus, stone fruit, and subtle toasted oak lead to a long, refined finish, combining the generosity of Okanagan Chardonnay with freshness and precision.
About the Winery, Production & Critical Reputation
CheckMate Artisanal Winery is one of British Columbia's leading producers of premium Chardonnay and Merlot, located in the southern Okanagan Valley near Oliver. Established by the von Mandl family, the winery focuses on small-production wines from carefully selected vineyard sites, with an emphasis on expressing the region's distinctive terroir.
Queen Taken is part of CheckMate's collection of single-vineyard Chardonnay wines, reflecting the potential of the southern Okanagan's warm growing days, cool nights, and mineral-rich soils. These conditions allow Chardonnay to develop ripe fruit flavours while retaining the natural acidity necessary for balance, structure, and aging potential.
Under the direction of winemaker Phil McGahan, CheckMate employs meticulous vineyard management, careful fruit selection, and Burgundian-inspired winemaking techniques. Barrel fermentation, French oak maturation, and lees aging contribute texture and complexity while allowing the character of the fruit and vineyard to remain central.
The 2022 vintage followed a relatively cool spring and a warm, extended autumn, allowing grapes to develop flavour and concentration while maintaining freshness. CheckMate has established an international reputation for producing some of Canada's most highly regarded Chardonnays, regularly earning recognition from leading wine critics.
Professional Scores
96 Points – John Schreiner
96 Points – Anthony Gismondi
