By Markus Wine Co.
2022 Nicolini Ranch Lodi Carignane

Producer Notes
One day, while Markus was pruning Steve Borra's Church Block, Al Nicolini walked up and asked for help with his own vineyard. Though planted in 1936, the vines were in good shape, and Markus agreed. Now we are building on this history. Founded in 2014, Markus Wine Co. began as a subventure of Lodi's first boutique winery, Borra Vineyards. Swiss-born winemaker Markus Niggli selects from vineyards throughout the Lodi region to craft unusual wines, such as our small-production Ancient Block bottlings.

Vineyard Notes
Our Ancient Block bottlings recognize and improve upon the legacy of our forefathers with the least necessary intervention in the winery. We pick from an inspirational vineyard block over 50 years old, and taste the resulting wine in the spring. Creative expressions of ancient vines are realized through a long-term annual collaboration with label designer Michael Leonard and his students at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. Jennifer Nava artfully expresses the graceful elegance of these old vines.

Winemaking Notes
If our other barrelled wines make the wine better - such as filling in a missing midpalate or improving acidity - we will blend them in. What we learn from this blending helps us identify what can be changed in how the block is farmed or when it should be picked next season. It is a living, evolving process to improve both the vines and the wines. You can sum up our winemaking in two words: fruit and age. We want wines to be 'zeitlos' - ageless and memorable - to drink young or with a decade or more of age, and still be absolutely elegant.

Technical Details
Harvest: September 17th (by hand)
Yeast: Native
Malolactic: Native
Cellar: Cold soak, extended maceration
Aging: 15 months in all neutral oak
Bottled: January 20th, 2024
Alcohol: 13.90%
pH: 3.64
TA: 5.70 g/L
Residual Sugar: 0.35 g/L (dry)

Tasting Notes
Pure Carignane with no blenders, no filtering, and no unnecessary winemaking can express itself as eminently elegant. The variety's natural acidity balances loads of mouthwatering, refreshingly tart plums and cherries. The tannins bring a welcome wave of medium-bodied texture. An infusion of savory tea and subtle potpourri adds to the plums on the lasting finish. If you tasted it blind, you'd guess Cru Beaujolais that veers up toward elegant southernmost Burgundy. So for a pairing, thin Coq au vin or duck, or something savory and herb-laden to feast on.
[Information provided by Matador Vino]

Wine: Markus Wine Co 2022 Ancient Blocks, Nicolini Ranch Carignan (Lodi)
Score/Rating: 94
Review Date: 10/01/2024
Reviewed By: Tonya Pitts
Tasting Notes: This wine is rich, with aromas of ripe strawberry, red plum, citrus and spearmint. The flavors on the palate are raspberry, quince, strawberry-rhubarb and pink grapefruit, studded with pink peppercorn, coffee bean and a dry finish. The Nicolini Ranch blocks of Carignan date back to 1936. Decant and enjoy.

Wine: Markus Carignan Lodi Nicolini Ranch 2022
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 11/05/2025
Reviewed By: Jim Gordon
Tasting Notes: This old-vine wine is charming, delicious and well balanced, rather light in body and low in tannins. Aromas of raspberries and red cherries lead to tangy cherry, pomegranate and cinnamon flavors supported by light tannins. Made from untrellised grapevines [...]. Drink now or hold.