If my only gift under the Christmas tree this year is a box of Troon Vineyard wine, I will be one happy camper. Or, sipper.
I recently received two bottles of Troon wine from the vineyard for sampling: 2016 Cuvée Pyrénées (63% Tannat, 39% Malbec), and 2016 Tannat. Our pre-Christmas Christmas dinner seemed like the perfect opportunity to open the bottle of Cuvée Pyrénées. I paired it with bone in ribeye steak with garlic compound butter and French-style fondant potatoes with fresh herbs.
That beautiful bottle of 2016 Cuvée Pyrénées did not disappoint!
If you’re not familiar with Troon Vineyard, you should be.
Situated in the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon, Troon prides itself on sustainable, organic, biodynamic winegrowing and a minimalistic approach to the winemaking process that showcases the natural terroir of the Applegate Valley. The latitude of the Applegate Valley mimics that of the Madiran region in France, making it an ideal spot for growing vines native to that region. In fact, the French grape Tannat is often blended with other varieties of Bordeaux grapes when grown in Madiran. That is one reason Troon chose to name this Tannat/Malbec blend “Cuvée Pyrénées”, as it resembles a traditional Madiran approach to winemaking.
The cool climate of the Applegate Valley creates grapes with a bright, acid-driven quality to them.
My first sip of the Cuvée Pyrénées confirmed this, as those light-bodied, tart, steely flavors filled my mouth. The aroma of the wine further emphasized these qualities. However, after a couple of hours in the decanter, the wine began to evolve, showcasing more subtle flavors and aromas. Flavors of fresh black pepper hit the nose and the palate, as the wine seemed to build a more robust, full-bodied personality in each sip. It truly was an experience tasting the evolution of this wine over the course of an evening.
As the wine grew in complexity, the food pairing experience was also enhanced. The bite of garlic in the compound butter and freshly cracked pepper on the steak complimented the acid-driven, slightly peppery wine. The buttery potatoes with fresh thyme helped enhance the subtler flavors within the wine, showcasing herbal qualities in each sip.
The magic of wine is that each bottle tells the story of its roots (literally).
Growing the same style of grape, or even a clone of a vine in a different region or in different soil will significantly alter the flavor of the finished product. Nuances in the fermentation process may also change the wine’s profile. I love that Troon’s winemaking process has no room for acid or sugar corrections to the wine during the fermentation process, meaning what you sip is an authentic representation of the plant, the fruit, and the region where it came from. It also means that the wine is just that: wine. No artificial ingredients, added sugar, or other chemical preservatives. As a result, this bottle of 2016 Cuvée Pyrénées showcases the Applegate Valley terroir in its truest sense.
The Details:
2016 Troon Vineyard Estate Cuvée Pyrénées, Kubli Bench, Applegate Valley
63% Tannat, 39% Malbec co-ferment
18 months in mature oak
13.5% ABV
TA 6.81
3.42 pH
267 cases produced
$60 per bottle
National Wine Review: 93 Points
Sean Ludford’s BevX: 5 Stars/98 Points
Thinking of gifting wine or wine accessories to someone special this holiday? Check out my gift guide for the wine lover in your life here!
