Region: Osoyoos East Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Grape: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting: Black cherry / Cassis / Blackberry / Black forest cake / Chocolate / Tobacco / Polished tannins

Pairing: Westholme Wagyu / Miguel Vegara Beef / Cinco Jotas Presa / Black Truffle / Poulet Landes

Producer: Checkmate Winery represents the pinnacle of Canadian winemaking, with their chess-inspired philosophy reflecting a strategic approach to crafting world-class wines from the Okanagan Valley's most prestigious sites. Their Opening Gambit showcases fruit from the renowned Osoyoos East Bench, where the unique terroir combines warm days, cool nights and diverse soils to create ideal conditions for Bordeaux varieties. The winery's commitment to precision viticulture and innovative winemaking techniques produces wines of remarkable intensity and layered complexity that demonstrate Canada's ability to rival the world's finest red wine regions.

Vintage: The 2019 vintage on the Osoyoos East Bench delivered exceptional conditions for red wine production, with ideal weather patterns throughout the growing season allowing for optimal fruit development and flavour concentration. The harvest timing captured perfect balance between ripeness and structure, producing wines with intense aromatics and polished tannins that showcase the full potential of this celebrated Okanagan terroir.

ABV: 14.5%

Vol: 75cl

Contains Sulphites