50% Kerner, 25% Riesling and 25% Bacchus from Mokelumne Glen Vineyards in Lodi, California.
SRP of $19 and available at that price. 42 cases produced. Sample submitted for review.
From the bottle:
“Discover the new medium – old world winemaking infused by contemporary label design.
A place in Europe explained through the eyes of Sheng Moua – a Graphic Design major at the University of the Pacific, in partnership with Borra Vineyards. The first label design in an emerging artist series.
13.7% Alcohol”
Today’s wine features two cool climate grapes you don’t hear much about in this country. Kerner is a variety that was created in Germany by crossing Schiava (a red grape) and Riesling. Lodi is the only place in California that grows this grape and Borra Vineyards crushed all 4.7 tons of it in 2013.
Bacchus is even rarer in California and is another German crossing, this time of Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner. In addition to Germany, it is also planted in England where it is made into a wine reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. And while normally you wouldn’t think of Lodi as a spot for these cool climate varieties, the Mokelumne Glen Vineyards placement on the banks of the Mokelumne River creates the cool conditions needed for these varieties to thrive.
The 2013 Borra Vineyards Artist Series Kerner Blend begins with pleasant aromas of lime, green apple, a little melon and tropical fruit and beautiful floral notes. Tasting reveals a very fruity wine full of lime and other tangy citrus and tropical flavors. A wonderful light effervescence cranks the refreshment level up another notch. Thanks to all that delicious fruit the wine tastes deceptively sweet, but it is in fact dry. Nice acidity helps to make it very food flexible. It finishes very long.
Winemaker Markus Niggli has nicknamed this wine “Vinho Verde” because he uses the Portuguese style of bottling the wine relatively young which leaves some of the natural carbonation from the winemaking process. It’s a good comparison in that those bubbles help create a delicious and refreshing summer wine except that this wine offers a lot more complexity than your average Vinho Verde.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.3
Recommended Buy
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