Nuthouse Pinot Noir

Here's a wine that will require some time to sit back and ponder over. The obvious notes on the nose of big juicy sweet Oregon blackberries and Rainier cherries have layers of summer cedar forest, strawberry rhubarb cobbler, and roses so deeply red they hurt adding aromatic complexities. Richness is exuded by this wine that has a palate full of berries fresh off the vine and exotic Asian spices, but with a graceful elegance that is anything but cumbersome. It is a rare and beautiful thing to find a Pinot Noir with this much power that still maintains the balance and finesse that defines the best that the varietal can be.

Winemaker's Production Notes

2009 was all about farming to balance Mother Nature’s surprises. Argyle’s farming culture got the crop level right on. We stripped leaves after the burning sun of August and in time for the Labor Day rains. We also believed September’s drying, east wind forecast and put a security of water onto the vines to help them ride out the drying, late season heat with a maximum of ripening—which is the name of the game here in the Willamette Valley. Picking was unusually “segmented” this year. Usually we can say that every 200’ rise in elevation can mean 10 days difference in ripening and thus picking. But in 2009 Argyle picked high and low elevation fruit at the same time! We picked all the sparkling fruit, then rested for a couple of days, then all the Chardonnay for still wine, rested another few days then all the red came in. The resulting wines are gorgeous, perky and sexy. I don’t know that I have seen a more sensuous expression of flavor and aromas in my 23 years of Willamette Valley winemaking.

Wine Production Stats

Varietals: 100% Oregon Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Lonestar
AVA: Eola-Amity Hills
Alcohol: 14.0%
Cases produced: 2350
Date Bottles: March 2010
Winemakers: Rollin Soles and Andrew Davis

Rollin Soles' 2009 Vintage Notes

Significant rain at Labor Day Weekend was almost a disaster. The effect was that berries absorbed water and pushed off pedicel in some portions of the cluster. That can lead to mold if berries ripen enough. Luckily, the fruit was not ripe enough to cause significant problems in the vineyard.

Then we had two all-day wets spaced a number of days apart that led to some botrytis infections in fruit clusters covered by vine canopy leaves.

Then a hot spell mid-September brought drying wind and 90° weather. The good news was that this removed any risk to further botrytis due to drying of grape clusters. On the less-good side, turgid berries from Labor Day's rain which pushed free of the pedicel raisined so no more ripening of flavor components was possible. Fortunately, only a small percentage of berries in a cluster were pushed off, losing their connection to the vine.

Picking was unusually "segmented" this year. Argyle picked high and low elevation fruit at the same time! We picked all the sparkling fruit, then rested for a couple of days, then all the Chardonnay for still wine. We rested another few days then all the red came in - high and low elevation winegrapes on the same days. Usually we can say that every 200' rise in elevation can mean 10 days difference in ripening and picking (yield for yield).

This was a vineyard management year. Argyle's farming culture got the crop level right on. We stripped leaves after the burning sun of August and in time for the Labor Day rains. We also believed the drying east-wind forecast and put a security of water onto the vines to help them ride out the drying, late season heat with a minimum of raisining and maximum of ripening.

The resulting wines are gorgeous, perky, and sexy. I don't know that I've seen a more sensuous expression of flavor and aromas in my 23 years of Willamette Valley winemaking.

91 Points

Wine Spectator
"The 2009 Pinot Noir Nuthouse is produced entirely from the Lonestar Vineyard. It sports an alluring nose of smoke, exotic spices, incense, and assorted red and black fruits. Elegant on the palate, it is a savory, elegant, spicy offering that has enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will drink nicely through 2019."
- Harvey Steiman (2009 vintage)
- October 2011

91 points

Wine Spectator
"Light and vibrant, this is juicy with cherry and raspberry fruit, picking up a floral note as the finish lingers enticingly. Drink now through 2017."
- Harvey Steiman (2009 vintage)
- October 2011

92 points

Wine Spectator
"Light and distinctive for its slightly candied currant and guava flavors, picking up an attractive lime blossom note as the finish lingers effortlessly. Drink now through 2018."
- Harvey Steiman (2008 vintage)
- May 2011

92 points

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2008 Pinot Noir Nuthouse is scheduled for release in Spring 2011. It sports an impressive aromatic array of wood smoke, Asian spices, incense, and assorted black fruits. Elegant on the palate, it manages to cram loads of spicy fruit into its medium-bodied frame. With outstanding volume, balance, and length, it merits 3-4 years of cellaring and will be in its prime from 2013 to 2023."
- Jay Miller (2008 vintage)
- November 2010