Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Troon Vineyard Piquette! Applegate Valley 2022
Product Story
What is Piquette? Piquette is a French term for a style of wine that was produced in most European farm wineries for centuries. In the spirit of never letting any good material go to waste, winemakers would add water, and sometimes a bit of sugar (Troon doesn't), to pomace (grape solids left after pressing to extract the juice) to create a light and often fizzy wine. This was a drink intended for the farmhands. The Troon Piquette! is co-fermented but in stages. As the grapes come into the winery — whites and rosé intended grapes come first. The first batch of grape skins are rehydrated overnight, pressed, and then the juice is settled before racking (running juice off the solids) then off to a stainless tank at cellar temperature to slowly ferment. Days later more fruit comes into the winery and the process is repeated and added to the first, “mother,” batch that reignites the fermentation. This happens five or six times throughout harvest. The varietals used are Mourvèdre, Vermentino, Cinsault, Tannat, Roussanne, Grenache blanc, and Négrette. This is useful information but the process is the real story. The resulting wine is fun, delicious, and it disappears the moment it hits your glass.
Brand Story
Troon Vineyard started quietly over four decades ago when Dick Troon planted vineyards in Southern Oregon. He sold grapes to local wineries but soon discovered that the best business decision was to create his own wines. He converted his barn to a winery and slowly built the brand until he sold the winery to his friend Larry Martin in 2003. Today, Troon Vineyard is owned by Dr. Bryan White and Denise White. The Whites along with Craig Camp, general manager, and winemaker Nate Wall lead the innovative wine making efforts at Troon. Nate has extensive winemaking experience in the Willamette Valley and brings a nuanced, almost Pinot Noir approach to winemaking. Craig is a wine industry veteran with a sharp palate, encyclopedic knowledge of the wines of the world, and relentless energy. Troon offers a wonderfully diverse selection of varietal wines and blends ranging from Malbec to Grenache and Vermentino to name just a few. Beginning with the 2018 vintage the fruit utilized by Troon was farmed 100% organically and biodynamically. All Troon wines were crushed by foot, fermented with only native yeasts with no additives of any kind. If you are seeking unique wines with style and gusto you need to get acquainted with Troon Vineyard.
Tasting Note
Hazy, medium deep ruby color with light stream of fine bubbles. The nose is moderately intense offering scents of wild raspberry, cherry, apricot and citrus zest with supporting notes of bees wax, citrus zest and hibiscus flower. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of mulberry, orange peel, and hints of rhubarb and quince. The finish is tart with soft tannins redolent of rustic French cider. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture and pleasingly expansive palate.
How to Serve
Serve chilled and enjoy as the perfect aperitif sipped alone or with country ham, olives, or cheese and bread.
Price: $ 25
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4296
