Checkmate Merlot ‘Silent Bishop’ 2019

Description

Spencer Kellys first taste of wine-industry recognition came from some of the most iconic and prestigious wineries in Napa Valley. With each harvest and each season, he perfected his track record for coaxing the finest vintages out of distinguished vineyards.
CheckMates success had rippled all the way down to California, and the opportunity to join one of Canadas most ambitious and celebrated wineries was irresistible. Some of the Okanagans most exceptional soils, old vines approaching 50 years of age and a commitment to making the highest quality wines aligned precisely with Spencers values as a Canadian winemaker.
Silent Bishop sits at an elevation of 1027 to 1306 ft. The fruit is handpicked off the cooler Western Benches (Oliver North, Golden Mile Bench, and Osoyoos West Bench) and is wild fermented. It spends 21 months in new French oak. The west side offers a multitude of red and black fruit nuances mixing tobacco and mocha with blackberries and raspberries, with scrubby desert notes underneath. A diversity of soils, aspects, and sun exposures leads to a complex Bordelais style.