Oregon wine: 2016 Troon Vineyard Tannat

2016 Troon Vineyard Tannat

Applegate Valley,
Rogue Valley,
Southern Oregon,
Oregon

14.0% alcohol

Cork closure

Biodynamic, Demeter, organic, native yeast

If you’ve never heard of Tannat, it’s a red wine grape with serious tannins. Originally found in the Pyrénées mountains of the Basque region, this varietal is hearty and robust with thick grape skins. Tannat is most often blended with other wine varietals to soften its tannic tendencies. However, Troon’s version is softer and gentler than most Tannat wines I’ve tried.

Color:

Burgundy red

Bouquet:

Fruity aromas of tayberries, raspberry jam and cherry cola rose from my glass as I swirled this wine. A second whiff revealed layered earthy notes of sandalwood and tart cranberries.

Palate:

This wine seemed like it would be heavy but was surprisingly bright and light. Filled with black raspberries and cherry cola, the tannins filled my mouth, giving me serious cat tongue. The flavors were full and the finish lingered long after each sip of wine.

Food pairing suggestions:

Pair with grilled portobello mushroom sandwiches, duck ragù with creamy polenta, Uruguayan lentil stew.

We pulled this wine out of the vault and sadly, Troon has long sold out of it. However, they do have some bottles of the 2017 vintage, and 2018 was just released!

SRP $45

www.troonvineyard.com