As we continue our journey through another great Oregon Wine Month, we bring you one of the great producers of sparkling wine in North America. I first visited this tasting room in 2002 and I can testify that what was one a small, unpretentious cabin used for tasting is now one of the most beautiful structures for tasting wine in Oregon. The talented Nate Klostermann took over for eminent winemaker Rollin Soles when Rollin launched his own project. Nate has steadily been producing some absolutely stunning wines as he began his career as a harvest intern at Argyle in 2005 and has served as winemaker since 2013. He has crafted some absolutely brilliant new wines at Argyle.
Look to the incredible 2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 93) which has beautiful range and a wonderful texture as this ‘Reserve’ is an amazing value at this price point. One of the best wines of Oregon that I have sampled in the past year, the 2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine (WWB, 96) is up there with the best ‘Extended Tirage’ bottlings that I have ever sampled. With its irresistible combination of poise and richness, simply put, this wine rivals any of the top sparkling wines made in North America. Learn more about these beautiful wines at http://www.argylewinery.com Here are the outstanding new wines by Argyle.
2014 Argyle ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Sparkling Wine- Entirely sourced from the Spirit Hill Vineyard, this brilliant new sparkling wine opens with wonderfully musty undertones that connect with the bright citrus fruit and melon accents on the nose. The palate is highly refined, showing kumquat, lemon zest, cantaloupe and suggestions of Challah bread flavors that combine neatly in the mouth. While beautiful now, this excellent new bottling will cellar well over the next fifteen years. Drink 2019-2029- 92
2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine- The 2008 Argyle ‘Extended Tirage’ Sparkling Wine is a simply marvelous effort from this storied vintage in Oregon. Spending ten years on the lees until disgorgement in 2018, the 2008 ‘Extended Tirage’ opens with a highly complex bouquet of marzipan layered with orchard fruits and baking spices, with pear moss undertones that all take beautiful shape in the glass. The combination of weight and balance of the wine is exquisite. A beam of salinity runs through ripe pear, kumquat, Shitake mushroom and green papaya flavors. Seductive and rich from this incredible vintage in Oregon this will continue to evolve well over the next fifteen plus years. I have found that this wine tends to show more beautifully a touch on the warmer side and is even more expressive in an Oregon Pinot Glass. This is truly one of the glorious sparkling wines of North America. Drink 2019-2035- 96
2018 Argyle Rose- Showing off a brilliant Salmon hue, the 2018 Rose by Argyle opens with pretty rose water with honeydew melon, red cherry and wet stone tones that fill the nose. The wine comes together with strong citrus zest tones on the palate that collide with the delicate red fruits. Drink 2019-2023- 89
2017 Argyle Pinot Noir- Argyle’s entry level Pinot Noir shows really good aromatic range from cinnamon to red currant to citrus blossom and earthy undertones that all connect in the glass. The texture is highly refined as the wine reveals bright red fruits that connect with the citrus rind and peat moss tones on the palate. This is seriously good for the price. Drink 2019-2025- 90
2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The 2016 Argyle ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a terrific wine for the price. On the nose this has really good range from blood orange to forest floor to black fruits and sage undertones. The silky texture really entices as black and red fruits mingle with blood orange and iodine flavors. Showing a really good savory and earthy character, this delicious ‘Reserve’ will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2033- 93