Troon Estate Tannat Applegate Valley 2013

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Applegate Valley

Varietal Tannat

Retail Price $29

ABV 13.7%

Score 4 Stars/92 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, deep ruby red color.

Aromatics

It is intensely fruity with dense black and red berries, plum, and black cherry with supporting notes of allspice, toasted oak, and hints of smoked meats.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and robust fruit-driven core with vibrant tart cherry notes that keep the wine lively and incredibly long trailing black fruits with firm but accessible tannins.

Intensity & Texture

Medium to full-bodied this Tannat is ideally balanced and so vibrant on the palate that it never seems heavy while also being quite intense.

Cool Factor

A beautifully made, cool-climate Tannat is always very cool. Impress your wine geek friends with this one.

Value Grade

At $29 a bottle this won't make the bargain shelf at your local supermarket but then again you probably won't find wines this interesting at your supermarket.

Analysis

The Tannat grapes are grown in the high bench land above the Appellate River very near the spring snow lines. Tannat is far from a household name but it is an important and very capable grape. 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 quite prolific in Uruguay and it is slowly growing in popularity in the US. Tannat has been part of the University of California's vine collections since the 1890s but the geniuses at the BATF did not recognize the varietal until 2002. The Troon Tannat vines seem to thrive in their cool Southern Oregon environment with the expected cooling winds from the nearby Pacific. 92 points out of 100.

How to Enjoy

For me this wine calls for grilled meats to join its meaty, smoky flavors and dense fruit offerings. Decant it for better texture and even more aromatics.