Troon Vineyard Druid's Pink Applegate Valley 2023

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Applegate Valley

Varietal Rose Blend

Retail Price $25

ABV 12.5%

Score 4 Stars/93 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, medium salmon color.

Aromatics

The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of kumquat, strawberry, and spring flowers with supporting notes of crushed berries, slate, and red grapefruit.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose, delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, star fruit, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering with tart red fruits that present a slight effervecenance.

Intensity & Texture

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.

Cool Factor

It's ultra cool to welcome this Pink to the family of Druid's wines from Troon Vineyard. This great collection of house wines shows Troon's intent and skill.

Value Grade

Scarcity, superb quality, and a modest, premium price tag of $25 make this wine a value for wine lovers seeking unique wines with personality.

Analysis

The very first Druid’s Pink is made with a blend of 62% Mourvedre, 18% Grenache, 8% Cinsault, 7% Carignan, and 5% Counoise. The varieties used, and their proportions will change each vintage with the entire Druid’s trio. The grapes were intentionally harvested with lower sugars and higher acidity than grapes destined to be red wine. We have seen Mourvedre-driven rosé from Troon in previous vintages, and we love what this varietal brings, delivering expressive fruit, herbal notes, and texture to the wine. Grenache is always welcome in rosé as it provides a silky mouthfeel with classic red fruit notes, then echoed by the Cinsault with Counoise and Carignan, adding spice and acidity. The whole clusters were gently pressed with the intention of extracting a minimum of color. The juice was fermented in neutral barrels with native yeasts, and then the malolactic process (softening the sharp acid profile) was encouraged. Then, the juice rested on the lees for roughly four months. Like all Troon Vineyard wines, the Druid’s Pink is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled with nothing but a glass or pair with grilled fish or fowl, as well as spicy Asian noodle dishes.