Troon Vineyard Syrah Applegate Valley 2023

Cool Factor

A

We were fans of Troon Vineyard wines from the start, but today they’re better than ever and extremely cool by our standards.

Value Grade

B

You will be hard-pressed to find a better Syrah for the price, and, given the scarcity of bottles, we find it to be a great value.

Analysis

Troon’s Syrah is more balanced and restrained than most New World Syrah, with moderate alcohol and an ideal balance of acidity — it’s certainly made in the mold of the Rhône Valley but has some characteristics of Burgundy. Troon’s 2023 Syrah is a blend of three of the four Syrah clones grown in their estate vineyards: 50% clone 470, 33% clone 174, and 17% Joseph Phelps clone. All of Troon’s Syrahs have been age-worthy, and the 2023 vintage is no exception, as it will improve for a decade or more in the bottle if you possess that sort of patience. The 2023 Syrah was harvested from September 15th to 23rd, 2023, and transferred into open-top bins and a large concrete vessel, with an average of about 30% whole clusters. All Troon wines are made from biodynamic grapes, spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts, with no additives of any kind. Approximately half of the Syrah for this wine was fermented in a large concrete vat, while the other half underwent fermentation in open-top bins. After roughly three to four weeks of fermentation, the concrete-fermented wine was pressed and returned to age in concrete. Meanwhile, the wines fermented in bins were pressed and then aged in neutral French oak barrels. The wine was then bottled unfined and unfiltered. There were fewer than 400 cases made, so get yours fast.

How to Enjoy

Serve at cellar temperature — decant and allow this wine to breathe for at least 30 minutes. Serve with grilled meats or complex stews and red sauces.