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21 Across - "Support position of white knight in resolution" (8)
I have -A-K-O-E - I presume this is "BACKBONE" but can't fully parse it.

It’s a bit obscure. B1 (B one) is the starting square of one of the white knights on a chessboard

Square B 1 (B one ) is the position f the white knight in chess?

Many thanks, both of you. As I've never played chess. this was a new one on me!

Yes, rocketman @4, I have said in another thread that I think chess notation is quite specialist for non-players to know, but setters seem to expect it.

In yet another thread there was the Guardian clue
After mistake on circuit, pressure for F1 starter(6)
You need to know that a chess bishop starts on the f1 square - the other white bishop actually starts on c1.

This algebraic (now known as 'standard') notation became more common in the UK around the 1970s. Previously we used English Descriptive notation where the bishop starting squares were actually QB1 and KB1 (queen's bishop one and king's bishop one). The other complication for crossword clues is that the abbreviation for knight gradually changed from Kt to N, avoiding confusion with K for king.

I got BACKBONE but am stuck with a couple nearby!

17D Middle -class drama that's sent up just the same? (3,4)

_ _ A / _ A _ A

16A Wine that's fine in Champagne region? (4)

_ _ _ A

Am thinking possibly CAVA for this one (which would make the first letter of 17D an A) but am not really sure.

Any suggestions?

Aga Saga, which is a palindrome. A phrase for a middle class drama.

Cava is right. Ça va means ok, fine in French

Thank you Quisling. An AGA SAGA does ring a feint bell - whilst CA VA is a good clue I just didn't see.