introducing wines from
Roger drove the tractor and loaded fruit up through his last harvest. He passed away in 2023.
2021 Brut Sparkling
Traditionally made, with four years en tirage before disgorging. This is a field blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
Brioche, toasted almond, and lemon curd notes match a fine, extended mousse.
The “Old” Merlot, planted 1973
2023 Late Harvest Riesling
We picked Riesling late in the season, in small, slotted bins. We then froze the fruit in our reefer unit, and slowly pressed the frozen grapes.
This process, more of an “ice box” wine than an “ice wine,” concentrated the sugars and flavors, allowing us to make a naturally sweet wine without fortification.
Dick Troon planted his vineyard in 1972, the first in the Applegate. He hung this sign in 1973. 
2023 Chardonnay
From 50 year old vines, the naturally low yields and high acidity of this fruit create a wine that is bright but also creamy and textured.
We barrel ferment in 1/3 new French Oak and allow the wine to undergo a malolactic fermentation before filtering and bottling.
2018 Merlot - old vines
The first Merlot planted in Oregon. We make this wine to capture the essence of the place where it's grown.
Rich, balanced, with naturally high acidity and tannin, this wine is made to age gracefully.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon - old vines
Applegate Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is unique. Because it’s late ripening, Cabernet from the Layne Vineyard ripens during the coolest part of the season. Yields are very low, and acids are naturally high. Secondary characters like sandlewood and cola nut predominate.
“Let’s check out Oregon, California’s feeling a little crowded”
- Roger Layne, 1972
They took a detour, pulling off of the brand new I5 freeway, and traveling down a side road through a little known Valley called the Applegate. As Roger and Barrie Layne drove down Kubli Rd., they saw a young Dick Troon hanging a sign in front of a new vineyard that read “Troon Vineyard, fine wines since 1976.” “Can you grow grapes here?” asked Roger. “Oh yes! Absolutely!” replied Dick. “Know of any plots for sale?” asked Roger. “Well, I know of one…” replied Dick. And that’s how the story began.
Roger and Barrie Layne were true Oregon Wine pioneers. Not only did they plant one of Southern Oregon’s first vineyards, they cleared the land, peeled and treated the logs that would make the endposts, fabricated some of their own vineyard equipment, and raised a family along the way.
The Laynes came from California. Barrie’s family had land around Calistoga, where they raised cattle and winegrapes. When they moved to Oregon, they planted what they knew - Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, plus a variety that was “new” at the time - Merlot. The Laynes were the first to plant Merlot in Oregon, and they developed a reputation for growing great Merlot. For a while, before Pinot Noir gained popularity, many Willamette Valley wineries bought Merlot from the Laynes to shore up sales.
Over time, they expanded their vineyard, propagating vines from cuttings, and eventually adding Syrah in the 1990’s, one of the first to do so.
I first met Roger and Barrie in 2004. At the time, I was the new winemaker at Troon Vineyard, and we were looking for more fruit to expand production. We drove up a long gravel road, and at the end, the little side valley opened up, and there it was - 29 acres of vineyards, old vines on great soil, in a beautiful setting.
We purchased Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from the Laynes. I blended the Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon we were growing at Troon and Cabernet Franc from another nearby vineyard - “Frank’s Vineyard” to make the “Old Vine Meritage,” our Bordeaux blend. Layne Merlot was a force - concentrated, with great color and a slight herbal note which became a signature.
We used a lot of Layne fruit at Troon, and I became friends with the Laynes, and started managing their vineyard in 2006. Over the years, we started grafting over sections of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to other varieties that we needed at Troon, including Vermentino, Riesling, Malbec, Muscat and Tannat. When I left Troon in 2014, Roger Layne asked me to make some Merlot under his own label. Eventually, we created the “Layne Vineyard” series, a set of wines made from the original 1973 planting - Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Later, we added a sparkling Brut from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, a late harvest Riesling, and a Vermentino.
I have always felt that part of the spirit of "terroir”, is the spirit of the people who farm the land. Roger Layne was honest, hardworking, and willing to lend a hand, especially to young people trying to make good. The Layne wines are a testament to him and the family. They are expressive, honest, soulful wines with personality.