Back in the early 2000s I first visited Argyle. The winery was getting some exceptional scores by Wine Spectator’s Oregon Critic, Harvey Steinman, and I had to check the wines out for myself. My first visit was in 2002 when they had a very small, rustic tasting room that looks nothing like the huge, modern facility that they have today. Tastings were held at their ‘Nuthouse’ outpost where people would have a chance to taste a range of their wines, including their top ‘Nuthouse’ bottlings.
I joined their wine club because I quickly became enamored by the wines. Rollin Soles was making some of the most electric Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that you would find in North America. Wines were well-balanced, with moderate oak and plenty of decadent red fruit flavors. As I was in grad school in San Diego, I shared these wines with my friends in my tasting group and they all agreed how incredible the top Argyle wines were.
Fast forward twenty plus years later I again descended on the Willamette Valley and had an early morning visit to Argyle with winemaker Nate Klostermann. He graciously shared a range of ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noirs that reminded me of the wines that I tasted when I was a wine club member. This was an incredible treat for me as these wines held remarkably well despite some being nearly twenty years of age.
Case in point, the 2005 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) has a long way to go still. Ripe and fleshy with remarkable flavor complexity and a smooth mouthfeel, this beauty is right in its sweet spot. A wine with serious potential is the gorgeous 2021 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which has massive potential and is still exceedingly primary. I can’t wait to revisit this beauty in about eight years, as it will live on for another fifteen plus. Learn more about these outstanding wines at argylewinery.com and here are my tasting notes from a sensational tasting of Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir.
2021 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Nuthouse’ is a totally stunning new wine by winemaker Nate Klostermann that is mainly sourced from the Lone Star Vineyard. Showing a deep hue in the glass, this offers lavender and red currant tones on the nose alongside clay soils and shades of strawberry Starburst candy. Broad-shouldered and beautifully textured, with serious weight and fantastic underlying finesse, this is a delicious and complex new bottling that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2023-2040- 95
2015 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- Entirely sourced from the Lone Star Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, the 2015 ‘Nuthouse’ is showing a dazzling bouquet right now. Exotic spices and beautiful red florals combine with salty soils, dense red fruits and Linzer torte notes. The palate is dense and heady with chewy and salty red fruit flavors alongside wild mushroom and peat moss notes. A total stunner, with a seamless mouthfeel and bright underlying acidity, this is a beautiful showing now at the eight year mark. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2013 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- The stunning 2013 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir comes from this challenging vintage which was marred by torrential rains at harvest. This bottling comes from the Lone Star vineyard as this was picked before the rains. This comes off considerably leaner than the first two wines, this is very delicate, showing nice secondary notes of forest floor and pine needles. This is a really strong wine considering the vintage. Drink 2023-2028- 92
2008 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- Coming from this well-balanced vintage, the 2008 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir is a really great wine made from this great vintage. Fresh and vibrant this displays light tannins that frame a beautiful core of dark fruits with black truffle and peat moss tones with shades of Christmas spice. This is right in its sweet spot now as this beauty still has a long way to go. Drink 2023-2031- 95
2005 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2005 Argyle ‘Nuthouse’ Pinot Noir is a total joy to drink right now. This is showing beautiful savory tones with a pretty core of red fruits alongside white truffle shavings, pomegranate seed, freshly tilled soils and shades of dried herbs. This is absolutely delicious stuff that has stood the test of time. Drink 2023-2030- 95