The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Applegate Valley

Varietal   Tannat

Retail Price   $45

ABV   14.1%

Score   4.5 Stars/95 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, dark ruby color.

The aromatics are very intense offering scents of black currant and blackberry with supporting notes of wet stones, cardamon, black tea, earth, and hints of campfire.

The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, five spice, forest floor, and graphite. The finish is long and lingering with firm but polished tannins.

Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture.

Cool Factor

A beautifully made, cool-climate Tannat is always very cool and this fine example is our all-time favorite American Tannat.

Value Grade

Selling at $45 a bottle this wine certainly has a select audience seeking unique and rare (just 150 cases) wines of high quality. Forty-five dollars for a truly unique wine is always a bargain in our estimation.

Analysis

This is the fifth Troon Tannat that we have sampled and it is just as good as last year's — our then favorite and now co-favorite. Like the 2017 the 2018 Troon Vineyard Tannat is the best American Tannat that we have ever tasted. The Troon Tannat grapes are grown in the high bench land above the Applegate River very near the spring snow lines. Tannat is believed to have originated in the Basque region but it made its mark a bit north in the South West France appellation of Madiran. Tannat is known as one of the most tannic of all wine grapes — Troon tames these tannins while still making a firm and robust wine. This wine was fermented with native yeasts, underwent natural malolactic fermentation, and was aged for 24 months in mature French oak. This is a wine that will evolve slowly and gracefully in your cellar.

How to Enjoy

Serve at cellar temperature and it performs best when decanted — if served today decant for one hour. Serve with grilled game or a rich and complex stew.