Troon Vineyard Druid's Fluid White Applegate Valley 2021

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Applegate Valley

Varietal White Blend

Retail Price $25

ABV 12.6%

Score 4.5 Stars/96 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Slightly hazy, medium straw color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of jasmine and apricot with supporting notes of orange peel, honeysuckle, citrus zest, and lemon grass.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of green apple, white peach, quince, and red grapefruit. The finish is long and lingering with refreshing citrus accents.

Intensity & Texture

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.

Cool Factor

Druid’s Fluid has been revitalized and given proper respect by the team at Troon capturing the spirit of the wine invented by Dick Troon in the 1970s — very cool.

Value Grade

Druid’s Fluid is Troon's house red and white wines developed in their estate vineyards and blended to be the best expression of the vintage. We find it to be a bargain.

Analysis

Druid’s Fluid, some say the wine that put Troon on the map, was perhaps a mistake. According to numerous sources Druid’s Fluid was born in the 1970s when, one vintage Dick Troon had a stuck fermentation that left some unfermented sugar in the wine. When he shared this slightly sweet red wine with his neighbors it was a hit and Druid’s Fluid was born. We don’t know exactly where the name came from but Fluid Druid, the second album by English rock quartet Druid was released in 1976 — the same year that Troon Vineyard was founded. The current team at Troon inherited the Druid’s Fluid brand and updated it with a new label featuring a Celtic triskele. Troon’s love of red and white Côtes du Rhone wines provided the needed inspiration. The 2021 vintage of the White Druid’s Fluid includes Vermentino, Marsanne, and Roussanne. Whole clusters of Marsanne and Roussanne were gently pressed and transferred to neutral oak barrels for fermentation while the Vermentino was first foot-trod. Fermentation was cool and slow with a natural malolactic fermentation in the spring. The resulting wine is complex while very fun.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled but no too cold or you will suppress the the subtle nuances abundant in this wine. Pair it with roasted fowl, crab cakes, cream sauces, or smoked salmon.