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Wine Recommendation
Trium Winery
2004 Growers' Cuvee(Rogue Valley)
Six people own Trium, but since they are three couples, it all makes sense. For years Southern Oregon growers Laura and Kurt Lotspeitch (Pheasant Hill Vineyard), Vernon Hixson and Nancy Tappan (Evans Creek Vineyard), Randy and Rebecca Gold (Gold Vineyards), watched as other winemakers bought their best grapes and made head-turning wines. Now they are producing their own wine from their own grapes and the Grower’s Cuvée (just 540 cases produced) is their signature wine.
It may also be a signature style for the Rogue Valley. This part of Oregon’s warm-climate appellations has a long history of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. But in recent years there’s been a rise in blending. Trium’s Grower’s Cuvée is one of the best examples of this development.
This Bordeaux-style blend (56% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc) starts with scents of cassis and cocoa, with touches of earth and barrel spice. The entry is smooth and the mid-palate is full of cassis and cherry fruit, with a plumy foundation. Good acidity and youthful tannins give verve, while notes of unsweetened chocolate and toasted coconut keep you coming back for more.
Winemaker Peter Rossback has always shown a deft touch with big wines, but in this wine he’s combined the power and depth of warm-climate fruit, with the elegance of a graceful balance. Lovely!
Reviewed April 26, 2007 by Cole Danehower.
Other reviewed wines from Trium Winery
The Wine
Winery: Trium Winery |
The Reviewer
Cole Danehower
Cole Danehower is the creator of the Oregon Wine Report. A frequent judge and a member of Northwest Palate magazine’s review panel, Cole's palate is particularly attuned to Northwest wines. He believes numerical scoring is inadequate in conveying the character of a wine, preferring to communicate his experience and evaluation of a wine through words. A believer in terroir (especially in Oregon's cooler growing regions) he also pays attention to the impact of winemaking style and vintage variation on a wine. He views balance, flavor purity, and a sense of character as key vinous virtues. |