Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Troon Vineyard Piquette! Applegate Valley 2019
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, 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. At Troon their Piquette! is a bit fancier as they very gently pressed both Marsanne and Vermentino, as well as Tinta Roriz, Primitivo, and Tannat used for their tasty Rosé (Check our review of Troon's Rosé here at BevX.). There was a good deal of juice remaining in the pomace so little water was used and no sugar was required. They bottled their Piquette! with a little sugar remaining allowing the fermentation to finish in the bottle thus creating a bit of fizz. They performed a light disgorgement removing the heavy solids while still leaving the wine with a light haze. 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 white peach and raspberry with supporting notes of bees wax, citrus zest, and rhubarb. The palate echoes the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of pomegranate, apricot, hibiscus flower, and lavender. The finish is tart with semisoft tannins redolent of rustic French cider. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.
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=3983
