KONTRAPUNKT* Fechner Vineyard Eden Valley Kerner 2022
Regular price $33.00Kerner... 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
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
2020
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. Drink now. Screw cap." - James Suckling Reviews
90pts + Silver - Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
90/100 "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 Trophy - Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show
93/100 "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
91 pts "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
Adelaide Review's HOT 100 Wine "Delicate, lean and fresh. Slightly Chalky on the palate and oh, so drinkable from start to finish."
92 pts "From the Fechner vineyard in the Eden Valley. Varietal kerner. 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, The Wine Front
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
2016
91/100 "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