2022 Markus Wine Co. Fusion Red Blend [WE95]

Producer: Markus Wine Co. 
Region: Lodi, California 
Blend: 53% Syrah, 25% Petite Sirah, 14% Carignane, 4% Zinfandel, 2% Viognier, 2% Alicante Bouschet 
Year: 2022 

Retail Price: $34.00
Our Price: $16.99* 

Markus Wine Co. was founded by Swiss-born winemaker Markus Niggli in 2014 in Lodi.  They are a boutique winery that focuses on fruit from old vines and less common grape varieties.  Markus specializes in lesser known grape varieties like Gruner Veltliner, Bacchus and Kerner while breathing new life into Lodi grapes like Syrah, Zinfandel and Carignane.  They craft small-production bottlings.  The wines are fruit-driven but balanced with higher acidity and soft, integrated tannins.  Markus wants wines to be ageless and memorable and to drink young or with a decade or more of age and still be absolutely elegant.  The 2022 Markus Wine Co. Fusion Red Blend is savory, beautifully balanced and full of deep dark fruit.  It's rounded and seamless with mouthwatering, silky tannins.  It has aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, expresso, violets, dried herbs and anise.  On the palate, it has flavors of dark berries, black plums, black currant, black pepper, vanilla, herbs, citrus, lemon and white grapefruit.  It has a creamy, smooth finish.  This dark blend will pair well with anything equally dark from grilled steak to duck to chocolate cake.  Enjoy!

Wine Enthusiast, 95 Points 

"This producer crafts both approachable and ageworthy wines from heritage vineyards in Lodi. In this concentrated wine, aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, espresso, violets, dried herbs and earth arise on the nose. Flavors on the palate are similar, adding layers of herbs, citrus, Meyer lemon, white grapefruit and more dark berries, finishing with mouthwatering, silky tannins. Hold or drink until 2034. Pair with Wagyu beef."

Winemaker Notes: 

"Savory. Beautifully balanced. Deep dark fruit. Those are first impressions. Delving further: the fruits are more like black plums and black currant on top of elements of coffee, black pepper, vanilla and maybe pencil lead ahead of the persistent almost creamy smooth finish. No one flavor dominates. No one component, like tannin, acidity, or oak takes focus, because they are all nicely interwoven, rounded and seamless, allowing this bottle to age for 10+ years.  This dark blend will pair with anything equally dark, from grilled steak to duck to flourless chocolate cake." 

Alcohol: 14.9% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Discounts do not apply to wines like this one currently on sale.