The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Applegate Valley

Varietal   Vermentino

Retail Price   $25

ABV   12.6%

Score   4.5 Stars/94 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium gold/green color.

The nose is moderately intense offering scents of dry Sherry, soursop, and quince with supporting notes of green melon, orange peel, and wet stones.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a tropical fruit-driven core with flavors of mangosteen and kiwi. The finish is long and lingering.

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a supple texture foiled by bright, semi-tart acidity.

Cool Factor

Vermentino made in the Pacific Northwest is always cool but add the whole grape ferment technique and this delicious and unusual wine is very cool.

Value Grade

This contemplative wine is made in small quantities — fewer than 250 cases — so we find the rarity and quality justify the $25 price tag.

Analysis

We have a had a few Vermentino wines from Troon but this is their first "orange wine" Vermentino. Orange wines are essentially white wines made like red wines meaning that they fermented with the skins. Typically white wines are made by extracting the juice from the skins and solids. Fermenting the whole Vermentino grapes in contact with the skins creates a wine with great texture and depth of flavor. The Troon Orange Vermentino is concentrated while nimble and fresh. It has a concentration akin to wines made with partially dehydrated grapes with beautiful natural acidity.

How to Enjoy

First, allow this wine to breathe — something that we rarely do with white wines. The complex flavors and bright acidity make it the perfect foil to both raw and cooked shellfish dishes.