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Troon Vineyard 2018 Grenache
Easy call: Grants Pass, not Napa.
Craig Camp was a prominent Napa Valley wine guy, making celebrated top-flight wines. So why would he walk away and move to rural southern Oregon to make wine?
For Craig, it was about freedom: “There was a vineyard on Napa’s Howell Mountain that we had been buying Cabernet from at over $10,000 a ton. The vineyard was sold and the new owner told me the new price would be $21,000 a ton. What fun is that? You can’t take risks with fruit that costs so much that you’re doomed to making a safe Napa Valley style. In the Applegate Valley, we can take risks and make exciting wines with a real edge.”
So when the opportunity came up to take over as general manager of Troon, he jumped! Since then, Troon has acquired new owners – the Winters family who fell in love with Troon while winetasting in the Applegate Valley. From Texas, they are Oregonians at heart, excited to help take Troon into its next chapter.
And what a chapter it will be! Troon was recently certified biodynamic – only the second such vineyard in Southern Oregon. They have planted new vineyards, replanted old ones, and developed a plan for the varietals that they want to be known for. With new winemaker Nate Wall on board they are set to jump into the next decade with excitement!
Cellar 503 Tasting Notes
Troon Vineyard, Grants Pass, Oregon
2018 Grenache
At Troon, they don’t do anything halfway. Every grape is harvested by hand and crushed by foot. Wines are made with minimum interventions, so that the character of the vineyard and the Applegate Valley defines the wine, not winemaking tricks or additives.
You might think that Grenache will be big, bold and a little over the top if you’ve experienced Grenache from California or Washington. But this Grenache has more in common with Pinot Noir than its cousins to the North and South. This is a graceful and elegant wine with floral notes, red fruit and a hint of herbalness. It has bold, “grippy” tannins (so be sure to aerate it, and don’t be afraid to drink it over several nights.)
Grenache is often picked too ripe in hot climates resulting in high alcohol, but not at Troon. They believe that Grenache will play a big role in the future of the Applegate Valley.
A Cellar 503 selection in February 2020, Spotlight on Southern Oregon Applegate Valley | Grenache
