Trouvère Artist Series, Tempranillo Reserve 2015, Umpqua Valley, South Oregon, OR

A polished and elegant Tempranillo from Umpqua valley, it’s full of dark berries, plum, cocoa, and spices. On the palate it’s juicy and plush, with fine and velvety tannins and a long finish. Exclusive to Bonde.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: Oregon

APPELLATION (AVA): Umpqua Valley 

REGION: Douglas County

SUBREGION: Southern Oregon

VINEYARD: 

VINTAGE: 2015

GRAPES: 100% Tempranillo

PRACTICE: Sustainable

VINIFICATION: 11 months in French and American oak

PRODUCTION: 253 cases produced

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Medium ruby turning towards brick

BODY: Medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Plums, roasted cherries, dried orange peel, leather, cocoa, Indian spices, fresh soil

FLAVOR: Plum, blackberry, strawberry, vanilla, cedar, sweet tobacco, white pepper, fresh and juicy acid

TANNINS: Elegant and fine-grained tannins

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.2%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Pair with barbecued meats or roasted mushrooms.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Lange Winery

“Don and Wendy Lange founded their eponymous winery and estate vineyard in 1987 with the purchase of a thirty-acre parcel in Northern Willamette Valley’s prestigious Dundee Hills. Their move north from Santa Barbara was precipitated by a few inspiring bottles from two of Oregon’s most iconic producers: Eyrie and Erath. A call to Dick Erath (whose phone number was listed on the back label) convinced the Langes to embark on a scouting trip.

“Starting at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, they tasted their way up, stopping only when they reached the Dundee Hills.. The couple saw a real estate sign advertising a property suitable for farmland—the property’s elevation and aspect reminded Don of the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. 

“After producing their inaugural vintage in 1987 [from grapes] purchased from neighboring vineyards, the Langes planted their estate vineyard in 1988.” (langewinery.com)

ABOUT TROUVERE: “THE BRAND As our Willamette Valley wine industry expanded and matured, it became clear that we had many prime vineyard sites, mostly growing pinot noir, that were worthy of single-vineyard status. In addition, our long-held interest in tempranillo and syrah as some of the world’s best red varietals, was piqued by the vineyards in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley and Eastern Oregon’s rugged Columbia Gorge. We created the Trouvère label to showcase small-lot, limited production wines from these dramatic AVAs. Other unique wines include Indigene, exclusive to our Estate Vineyard, which is created from a white grape mutation of pinot gris which we have been cultivating for over two decades.” (langewinery.com)

ABOUT THE LABEL: Tango at Segesta by Mary Heebner

“We partnered with Santa Barbara artist Mary Heebner to launch the series. Her diptych titled Tango at Segesta reminds us of the dramatic climatic zones found in the Umpqua Valley. The warmer growing conditions at the Southern end of the AVA are perfectly suited for this noble Spanish grape.” (langerwinery.com)