05/23/2026
Outstanding. 94 Points — 2024 Troon Vineyard Mourvèdre Amphora, Applegate Valley, OR: Retail $45. Responsible Bottle (506g; 17.8oz). 100% Mourvèdre. This is the second bottle of this wine that the kind folks at Troon sent me, and this is equally as fantastic as the first. Each time I receive some wine from Troon, I am excited. Not only are the wines incredibly well-made and tasty, but I would venture to state that no other winery is better for the planet and more committed to sustainability. Period. On the other hand, I am no fan of Mourvèdre; I find it overly meaty and funky (even though I claim to love the funk). But. This is a really good Mourvèdre. Medium to dark in color with that characteristic meaty-funkiness on the nose, I am hesitant to dive in, but once I do? Yeah, this is close to gangbusters. Plenty of luscious red and blue fruit on the palate, along with that, yes, meaty-funkiness, but also a zingy, unifying, captivating acidity, that is a show-stopper. Again. I love Troon for so many reasons, but there is no denying that their wines are world-class.
Outstanding. 93 Points — 2024 Troon Vineyard Mourvèdre, Applegate Valley, OR: Retail $45. Responsible Bottle (505g; 17.8oz). Under DIAM Origine 10 stopper. 100% Mourvèdre. Biodynamic. I was going to list all of the certifications for this wine, but the list is long, and I try really hard to keep my tasting notes under 200 words (really, I do). While I have reviewed the Amphora version of Mourvèdre from Troon numerous times, this is my first foray into the “standard” version (calling any of Troon’s wines “standard” seems wrong, but moving along). I have stated numerous times, without the slightest hesitation, that I am no fan of Mourvèdre. I find the variety overly meaty and a bit funky. Both of those attributes apply to this Troon, but I have to say, at the risk of hyperbole, that Troon wines just seem happy, and it is really difficult to dislike a happy wine. For me, happy wines exude confidence and joy, giddy that the farm where they are made is healthy, vibrant, thriving, and, well, also happy. Anyone who has ever set foot on the Troon property in the last, say 5-8 years, knows exactly what I mean. The lengths to which Troon goes to establish and maintain a healthy and happy ecosystem on the farm are nothing short of extraordinary. And it certainly shows in the wine. Juicy, fruity, tart, and layered, but also meaty and a tad funky, this “standard” Mourvèdre comes really close to getting me “hooked” on the variety as a whole. This wine is not only delicious, but it is also versatile; pair it with pizza, pasta, roast pork, or just sip it while binging on your latest guilty pleasure. By the third (second?) sip, that meaty funkiness will not only become more palatable, but you will also find it enticing. I really don’t like Mourvèdre, but once again, I love this Troon.
It is time for another edition of “Random Samples”–I occasionally get samples from marketing agencies and/or producers. These can often be grouped together into some sort of overarching theme: Mure…
