Troon Vineyards A New Journey Has Begun For This Historic Winery

*Samples Received*

Imagine my surprise hearing Craig Camp was moving from the Napa Valley to the Applegate Valley AVA of Oregon. It was 6 years ago when he introduced me to the wines he represented but knowing him this new venture was an opportunity to showcase distinct wines from a new growing region.

Historic Troon Vineyards was first planted in 1972 by Dick Troon so as you can see the vineyard has been around for some time. The addition of winemaker Steve Hall (2014 his first full vintage) along with Craig the journey has begun. How these wines will evolve in the next year, two, five and ten is very exciting. Steve is moving toward a more natural wine making process. Craig comments "Our wines are almost all trodden by foot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and go through natural malolactic fermantations." He goes on to say that only small fermenters are used and no pumpovers just good old punch downs by hand. You will find these wines "clean, elegant and refined with bright, fresh fruit flavors."

First wine was the 2014 Blue Label Vermentino/Sauvignon Blanc Applegate Valley. This wine is 80% Vermentino and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Right out of the gate (no pun intended) lemon, pear, fresh sliced almond and some nice herb and floral notes. The mouth was a citrus blast with lemon curd, lime zest with dried herbs intertwined. The finish showed a touch of honey with a quick splash of orange peel. If you love citrus this crisp refresher is for you. Well done!

Second wine is the 2014 Longue Carabine Applegate Valley. Named after the rifle used by the pioneers who traveled across the country, this wine is a unique blend of 3 lots marsanne/viognier, vermentino/sauvignon blanc and a vermentino/muscat. On the nose ripe peach and apricot with a hint of coconut and chopped thyme. Mouth is full of juicy peach and apricot with a hint of ginger and herbs on the finish. A nice crisp hot summertime wine!.

Last up the 2014 Red Label Zinfandel Applegate Valley.  The nose is big with blackberry, cinnamon and dark chocolate aromas. The mouth is luscious  raspberry, dark berries with milk chocolate and a nice pepper spice. Classic Zinfandel and I paired this with my spaghetti/meat sauce. For a big aroma wine once allowed to open there was this subtle softness. Really nice Zin Craig!.

Keep this winery on the radar. Producing some very fine wines which will only get better!

Cheers
Dan

2015 Angels & Cowboys Rose Sonoma County #Winestudio Rose Revolution

A nice fun little Rose from Angels & Cowboys on tonight's #Winestudio. One of the interesting facts of the night is that the wine is not sold direct to consumers at this time. Maybe someday but currently only sold in small shops and wineries. We might see a tasting room in the future so stay tuned you Rose lovers. Overall winery case production is 6000 (includes their red blend). At $14.99 a bottle a well priced Rose.

A light blush/pink color, this wine is a blend of Grenache Rouge, Petit Verdot and Grenache Blanc. Grapes for the wine are sourced from Carneros, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley. The nose shows a nice balance of pink grapefruit, red berries, wild flowers and a sassy spicy note. Let it warm in the glass a touch and watch the aromas race to your nose.

The mouth I will agree with all the participants was lively and racy. The red berry fruit and acidity is a great compliment with a silky and spicy long finish. Like my buddy Dezel before you knew it the bottle was empty. What an easy sipping wine and paired with baked chicken. Nicely done and my comment "it's a keeper."

Sadly our month long Rose Revolution has come to an end. Thanks to Tina and Winestudio for a fun educational month of Rose.Oh and the participating wineries and winemakers too!

Cheers
Dan

2015 Pedroncelli Dry Rose Of Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley

The Rose Revolution continues on #winestudio with this offering from Pedroncelli Winery & Vineyards. You couldn't blink while interacting with the winery because the questions and wine facts were flying fast and furious. Made from vines ranging in age from 40-65 years old, the Dry Rose Of Zinfandel is made by combining free run juice from early picked grapes (60% of the blend) and 40% saignée. Fermentation is completed in temp controlled stainless steel with bottling completed a few months after harvest. All this means for us Rose lovers is the freshness of the vintage and vineyard is captured in each bottle. In the 60's and 70's this wine was much sweeter but has become dry over the last 10 yrs with each family generation refinement.

We had a wide range of pairings this evening and I chose a deep dish Chicago pizza but first naturally I had to swirl and sip. The nose was full of strawberry, raspberry with spice and pepper. As the wine warmed in the glass the aromas opened even more. The mouth I found delightful with red berries (strawberry/cranberry) with a hint of citrus zest, slight tartness and that lovely pepper spice on the finish. I could taste a touch of the sweetness, but when paired with the pizza the sweetness said goodbye and the pepper spice became more pronounced along with tart cranberry. A really nice rose my Pedroncelli friends!

Folks tune Tuesday for another Rose tasting on WineStudio!

Cheers
Dan

2015 Campesino Isa Grenache Rose Sonoma Coast

When is a great time to sip rose you ask? Anytime should be the answer not just when it's hot. Readers know I'm a huge fan of Campesino Cellars and the wines produced by Macario Montoya. Today's 2015 Grenache Rose might just be one of the finest rose wines I have sipped.

Macario along with his wife Griselda own this ultra premium boutique label. I just love small production wines with their intense flavors and labor of love production. The attention to detail on these wines from the vineyard to the bottle is a team effort. As they will both tell you the success of their label includes the work of the Campesinos. Many times these field workers are forgotten but not by these two because it's the exact same work their families performed when coming to the area to make a better life for themselves and their children.

In the glass the red berry aromas explode with wild strawberry and raspberry. Cinnamon spice fills your nose with a slight hint of white pepper and fresh daisies. Nice complexity of aromas.

The mouth was so good I think my comment to the winemaker "I love this wine!" was well received LOL. The red berries were so intense (cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, cherry) with a slight tartness in the middle but a wonderful splash of spice on the finish. A wonderful expression of rose and wine which Macario produces. Well done my friend and Happy Fathers Day!

I encourage you to sign up for the mailing list by clicking the link Campesino Cellars Mailing List to make sure you have the opportunity to obtain their latest releases. It's an email I can't wait to receive but then again you already knew that.

Cheers
Dan

Sonoma's Rose Revolution Winestudio with Passaggio Wines 2015 Merlot Rose

Welcome to #Winestudio and our journey tasting through Sonoma's Rose Revolution. First up a label I am all to familiar with Passaggio Wines and winemaker Cynthia Cosco. Handcrafted to bring you a new generation of small lot food friendly wines, "I believe something magical happens when you bring wonderful friends, awesome food, and great wines together" says Cindy. I remember first meeting her back in 2010 and was reminded as she chatted with the tasters her journey from law enforcement to winemaker. Winestudio is full of facts and winemaker/participant conversation. One of the best shows out there.

Rose is such a versatile wine with its food friendly demeanor...I swear it pairs with anything. Not just for warm months try rose with your thanksgiving dinner along with anytime on the patio. What made this wine special as many small lot productions, is that the winemaker and her friends picked these grapes and headed straight for the winery for a full on press. The wine is crisp on the nose with loads of red berry and hints of plum. The mouth is juicy and long with plum and ripe red berries.There was no food pairing tonight because this sipper didn't last. Well done Cindy.

Tune in Tuesday for another Rose Revolution tasting.

Cheers
Dan