Quite literally a brand new winery, Domaine Trouvère is Lange Estate Winery's sister label, created by founders and winemakers Don, Wendy and Jesse Lange to accentuate small-lot wines that come from older vintages. These wines are all ready to go upon release and are drinking marvelously, not needing any time in the cellar.
I have been skeptical about wines coming from the Umpqua Valley in terms of consistency of flavor density and flavor complexity, which can be remarkably inconsistent for my palate. These wines from this region by Jesse Lange were seriously good. I adored the 2015 Domaine Trouvere ‘Artist Series Reserve’ Tempranillo (OB, 91) which is already beautifully evolved and shows a great core of black and blue fruits with good acidity. A total home run, the 2019 Domaine Trouvère ‘Indegne’ Pinot Gris (OB, 93) is novel and vibrant, with incredible freshness. I can’t help thinking how magical this wine would be with some killer oysters. Learn more about this exciting new project at langewinery.com and here are my tasting notes on the new Domaine Trouvere wines.
2019 Domaine Trouvère ‘Indegne’ Pinot Gris- Sourced from the Dundee Hills, the ‘Indegne’ is created from a white grape mutation of Pinot Gris. Bright, with outstanding acidity and serious finesse, upon entry you are greeted to gobs of lip-smacking acidity that mingles well with the soft sense of texture and beautiful length. Meyer lemon oil, roasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple all combine brilliantly on the palate. This is begging for fresh Kusshi oysters. Enjoy this seriously good and novel wine in its youth while the sense of brightness remains intact. Drink 2021-2026- 93
2016 Domaine Trouvère ‘Artist Series’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from both Dijon and traditional clonal Pinot Noir, this Willamette Valley AVA bottling shows plenty of weight with ripe bing cherry, tobacco leaf and boysenberry flavors with smoky minerals rounding out this great new wine. Despite the heat of the vintage this comes off very light on its feet. Drink 2021-2028- 92
2017 Domaine Trouvère ‘Artist Series’ Syrah- This 100% Umpqua Valley Syrah was aged in a combination of French and American oak for eleven months before bottling. The palate shows great finesse with a soft mouthfeel and silky tannins that line a core of black fruits with smoky undertones. While delicious and well-structured I would prefer a bit more mid-palate flavor density considering the varietal. Drink 2021-2025- 90
2015 Domaine Trouvère‘Reserve Artist Series’ Tempranillo- Also sourced from the Umpqua Valley, the ‘Reserve’ Tempranillo shows a touch better flavor density than the Syrah, offering blue and black fruits alongside chocolate and sage undertones. Delicious now, and already nicely evolved, savor this Tempranillo over the next five to seven years. Drink 2021-2026- 91