KONTRAPUNKT* Fechner Vineyard Eden Valley Kerner 2024
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Kerner... this evocative, textural treat is the brain child of August Herold. First planted in 1929 as a cross-breed of Riesling and Trollinger... fast forward 76 years to when Barossa bros Graeme & Michael Fechner had that elusive lightbulb moment - to plant Kerner cuttings in their northern Eden Valley vineyard whilst on a research trip in Germany. Their pioneering efforts, sparked our intrigue... we first dabbled with Kerner incorporating it into our aromatic field blend DÜFTE PUNKT, co-fermenting it with Riesling and Gewürztraminer from the same vineyard. After years of experimenting, we decided it was time to truly hero this germanic wunderkind, and push Kerner into the limelight with the release of the first KONTRAPUNKT in 2016... now Australia’s (and the Southern Hemisphere's) only Kerner. “Every now and then you encounter a wine that blows your mind. Kerner is one of them. Haven't heard of it? You're not alone." - Katie Spain, SMH & The Age
So what's all the excitement about? It's like Riesling on steroids. Fuller in body and more luscious in texture. It's wonderfully aromatic, with a deliciously creamy palate & some bright acidity that keeps it fresh, lively and oh-so drinkable. This wine is for the foodie, the sommelier who has seen it all, and those who just want to drink different... it's white wine for the red wine drinker.
Winemakers: Daniel Chaffey Hartwig, Theo Engela + Huon Fechner
Varietal: Kerner
Region: Eden Valley
Alc/Vol: 13%
pH: 3.2
Acidity: 4.7
Bottle size: 750 mL
Shop back vintages here.
“… an exceptional expression of this rare variety, as the 2020, 2019 & 2017 vintages demonstrated. Vibrant aromatics with a hint of nuttiness. Great linear flavours of red apples and citrus, steely when young and softening off and rounding out over time to become a truly sensational, silky smooth, creamy wine.” - Dan Traucki, WBM
2024
93pts "Eden Valley kerner, whole-bunch pressed, wild ferment on full solids in stainless steel. Pale straw with bright citrus and light stone fruit tones. Hints of almond paste, citrus blossom, crisp pear, crushed stone and dried meadow flowers. A light textural note and a brisk, minerally finish; this makes for great and really interesting drinking" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
92pts "Solo Kerner is not a variety often encountered locally. This one is from the Fechner Vineyard in the Eden Valley. The grape is actually a cross between Riesling and Trollinger, first created in 1929. It may not have taken off in quite the manner originally hoped, but it does provide some enjoyable wines. Pale lemon/straw, we have notes of citrus, especially grapefruit and lemon, combined with dried herbs and hints of bitter almond on the finish. A wine of medium length and a seductive texture. A curio, perhaps, but certainly worth a look. It should drink well over the next 2–3 years." - SA Wine Guide 2026
92pts "Aromas of lemon sherbet, lime leaves, stone fruit and candied orange zest. The palate is light-bodied with zesty acidity and a generous texture. Really fresh and fun." - James Suckling Reviews
2022
93pts "Single-vineyard Eden Valley kerner (a mashup of riesling and trollinger). Pale straw with lemon, lime and green apple fruit tones. Hints of marzipan, almond blossom, a splash of nashi pear and a handful of crushed quartz ... some light whey and a suggestion of cut fennel further back. Lean, crystalline and lemony with plenty of verve, briny acidity and inherent drinkability. Get on the kerner train!" - Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
2021
91pts "A delicious example of this little-known grape variety. Bold and zesty with ice bon-bon and melon aromas. Really swings its way over the palate and leaves you wanting more of this unique kind of white wine. Fun" - James Suckling Reviews
91pts "Familiar and different. Guava and rosewater/lychee intrigue with pear/apple skin pomme influence, smoked honey, lime granita, white pepper spice and “fly spray” freshness. Betwixt and between on the palate: blind you may pick it for Gewurz with the palate weight and spiced rose/lychee fruit that is countered with bright and insistent acidity. A flourish of red apple to finish." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook
2020
SILVER - AAVWS - Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
91pts "Familiar, yet foreign. There's pear flesh, lime juice, matcha green tea and hints of lychee, honeysuckle with a slight candle wax depth. And yet, there's something you just can't quite put your finger on, a touch of “fly spray” and wet white stones too. The body, while bright has a sweet fleshiness and viscosity akin to pear juice before a tight, fine finish with subtle grip. Try seafood laksa for rich, spicy match." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook
91pts "This has quite a restrained apple and lemon nose. Apple peel, too. The palate is fresh, lively and has some attractive, fresh green apple and pear to close." - James Suckling Reviews
90pts "Pale lemon and lime tints in the glass. Ripe pears, white flowers and broken slate aromas. Light to medium on the palate, it sits with a good weight of orchard fruit and aromatic sweet spices. There's a hint of sugar amongst it, but the taut acid line and brush of phenolics balance that to dry the finish pleasingly" - Stuart Knox, The Real Review
2019
Stewards Choice Award - AAVWS - Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
93pts "Fresh and lively: initial pear split by spice, lychee, creamed honey, grilled kaffir lime skin, stony quartz with a touch rosewater on the pull-away. Offering some flesh to the front palate with richer than expected elements before the acidity refreshes with a lime granita like finish and a slightly tacky, drying phenolic grip. A moreish wine of difference." - Regan Drew, Vino Notebook
91pts "A fresh, off-dry style that has pear, apple and pastry notes on the nose and palate. Some crunchy, bright acidity." - James Suckling Reviews
2018
92pts "There's volume to this, there's length, there's a textural softness. All ticks. Grapefruit, citrus rind, apple and pure white pepper. Very good." - Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front
Hot 100 SA "Delicate, lean and fresh. Slightly Chalky on the palate and oh, so drinkable from start to finish." - 2018 Hot 100 SA
2017
GOLD Medal "’Very elegant’ was Juan Manuel Marcos Perez of The Gilbert Scott's first impression on encountering this impressive Gold-worthy wine, further describing ‘stone fruit like peaches, pineapple and mango, with a slight influence of oak’, while Elisa Soggia of Kai Mayfair noted ‘a creamy, smoky, vanilla aroma with elderflower and tropical fruit’. Team leader Laurent Richet MS was reminded of ‘key lime pie’, and found it ‘pure, bright and intense’, saying it would be ideal alongside ‘sweet and sour pork with pak choi and steamed vegetables’." - Sommelier Wine Awards UK
90pts "From the Fechner vineyard in the Eden Valley. Varietal kerner. Hand picked, inoculated, full solids. It swings this way and that. Tart in part, sweet in others. Grapefruit, tropical fruit and musk. Both lively and textural. Takes you on a ride. Aftertaste of crushed fennel. Particularly suited to the dining table." - Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front
2016
91pts "The white grape kerner is the love child of riesling and the red, trollinger (aka schiava) bred by August Herold in '29, Germany. This is the first 100% kerner made by Chaffey Bros and it's a savoury package of grilled nuts, cinnamon, lemon rind with neat phenolics on a slightly broad palate." - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
