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Winemaker: Chris Christensen
Farming: Sustainable
Varieties: Barbera, Zinfandel, Muscat
Terroir: Blend of vineyards from Northern California. Hillside Barbera from the 1700ft elevation Dorn-Las Lomas, Primitivo Clone Zinfandel from 2000ft-elevation High Rock Ranch, Zinfandel from the Patsekos Vineyard in the flats of the Ukiah Valley, Muscat from Sandy Bend Vineyard.
Vinification: 40% whole cluster fermentation, limiting the extraction of tannin by reducing the number of pump-overs and then limiting the wine's aging time in barrel.
Aging: Combination of 25% new French Oak, stainless steel and barrel aging.
From our 2022 Explorer Club Notes:
Bodkin Wines | The Hill & The Vale Red Blend | North Coast, California | 2021
Chris Christensen is a gem of a man. Hailing from Iowa, this midwesterner grew up with a love of Shakespeare and an urge to do something big. Like many farmboys chasing new horizons, he moved west to live amongst the vines nearly 20 years ago. After years of working in wine production, Chris released the first Bodkin bottles- something to call his own- in 2011. Now, he's known as one of the renegade New California winemakers specializing in delicious, hand-crafted, fruit-driven wines at great prices. He says he's a "baller on a budget,’ and we are into it!
This wine is a fun one. The Hill & The Vale comes from a blend of sustainably-farmed red and white grapes planted from beautiful Northern California vineyards, crossing county lines so Chris can find some of the most beautiful, sustainably farmed fruit. Winemakers must use the North Coast AVA appellation for wines produced from vineyards in multiple counties. Fruit for the North Coast AVA can only be from Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano Counties. The Hill & The Vale is predominately Zinfandel sourced from both hillside Primitivo clones in Sonoma Coast and Ukiah Valley vineyards in Mendocino County, plus high-elevation Barbera and white Muscat Canelli from Lake County vineyards.
This is a lightly-colored wine with big aromatics that would love a slight chill. Flavors of mixed raspberries, blackberries, blood orange, and red licorice are tamed by a light earthiness of crunchy leaves, spicy herbs, and a hint of vanilla. The Hill & The Vale is so fun and unexpected, which is exactly why we love Chris & his Bodkin wines so much. Try this bad boy with Korean-style fried chicken, grilled sardines, or a classic burger. Have fun with this guy! —Cara Patricia
