Markus “Blue” — the polished, dark-fruited Lodi red you open without overthinking it.
Four reasons collectors move on this allocation.
Markus Niggli has a way of making Lodi feel less predictable. Blue is familiar enough to pour for anyone, but the architecture is not generic: Petit Verdot leads, Cabernet Sauvignon gives shape, Malbec softens the corners.
The Allocation Opportunity
- Official direct reference sits around the low-$40 range, while this ShopWineSlash allocation lands at $27.
- The blend is not a commodity Lodi red — it is Petit Verdot-led, site-specific, and shaped by a distinctive winemaker.
- It works across the two real buying lanes: open one tonight, keep the rest for richer fall and winter cooking.
No inflated score game. Just the right story.
We are not adding a made-up critic score here. The stronger point is the producer: Markus Niggli has built a following around small-production Lodi wines that feel personal, precise, and just a little off the expected path.
Supported by 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec — a darker, more structured take on Blue.
Swiss-born, Lodi-rooted, and known for wines that favor freshness, unusual blends, and transparent vineyard character.
Red-fruited perfume, rose-petal lift, tart plum, sour cherry, and a medium-bodied finish with useful tannin.
Slash Price $27 vs Wine-Searcher lookup vs Winery reference $40–$41.
At $27, Markus Blue lands in the sweet spot: inexpensive enough to open on a Tuesday, built well enough to pour when dinner actually matters.
The visible direct-market reference for the 2022 Blue is around the low-$40 range, while your locked ShopWineSlash price is $27. That is a clean $13 savings versus the supplied $40 winery price — or roughly 32% below the winery reference.
Check live references here: Wine-Searcher and the official Lodi Wine listing.
Bright red fruit, dark structure, and that little savory snap that keeps it honest.
Think raspberry sorbet and sour cherry first, then tart plum, rose petal, a flicker of spice, and a tannin line that reminds you Petit Verdot is doing the heavy lifting.
A Petit Verdot-led Lodi red with Bordeaux bones and California ease.
The blend is the story: 70% Petit Verdot from Spenker Ranch Block 8A, with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec from Borra Vineyards’ Gill Creek Ranch. That puts Blue in a more structured, aromatic lane than the earlier Zin-led versions.
Petit Verdot gives color, tannin, and that dark floral/savory edge. Cabernet Sauvignon supplies shape. Malbec rounds the edges so the wine stays generous rather than severe.
Markus Niggli makes Lodi feel personal.
Markus Wine Co. grew from a simple but rare idea: Lodi does not have to be one thing. It can be old vines and unusual grapes, structure and freshness, California generosity and European restraint.
Blue has changed over time, and that is part of the charm. Earlier vintages leaned into Zinfandel power. This 2022 turns toward Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec — a darker, more architectural red that still keeps Markus’s fresh, food-ready signature.
It is not trying to be Napa. It is not trying to be Bordeaux. It is Lodi through the hands of a winemaker who treats blending like memory: places, varieties, and textures layered until the wine has a point of view.
Two fresh pairings built for Petit Verdot grip.
Blue wants food with browned edges, savory depth, and enough richness to meet the tannin. Keep the sauces bright, the salt confident, and the cooking relaxed.
Coffee-Rubbed Flank Steak
Coffee, pepper, char, and roasted vegetables pull out the wine’s darker side while keeping the pairing vivid and clean.
Why it works: the steak’s roasted edge meets Petit Verdot’s tannin, while the wine’s raspberry and sour-cherry lift refresh the finish.
View Recipe →Mushroom Fontina Flatbread with Crispy Sage
Earthy mushrooms, melted fontina, and sage make this a perfect low-lift dinner bottle pairing.
Why it works: mushroom umami softens the tannin, fontina adds roundness, and sage catches the wine’s floral-savory edge.
View Recipe →Secure the six. This is exactly the kind of red that earns its shelf space.
Markus Blue is not a trophy bottle. It is better than that for most nights: vivid, structured, food-friendly, and interesting enough to make people ask what it is.
At $27 against a $40 winery-price reference, the value is obvious without needing to shout. Open one with steak or mushroom flatbread, give the rest a little time, and let the Petit Verdot do what it does.
