Argyle Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

The aroma is surprisingly robust. Look for dark fruit aromatics like black berry, black cherry with nice Spice Route spicy complexity. The flavor is rich and robust as well. Black cherry folds nicely into lovely fresh earth on the middle palate. The ending is ripe black cherry and plum fruited.

Winemaking 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. - Rollin Soles

Wine Production Stats

Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyards: Lone Star, Stoller Vineyards, Knudsen Vineyard
AVA: Willamette Valley
Alcohol: 14.0%
Brix: 22.5-24
Bottled: September 2010
Cases Produced: 18,295
Winemaker: Rollin Soles

2009 Harvest

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.

2008 Harvest

Very dry and cold spring delayed heat accumulation leading to late bud break and late flowering. When flowering occurs in July (around end of first week in 2008), the weather is warm and sunny. This leads to excellent pollination and set of a rather large crop of grapes. But, we cannot guarantee that there is not enough sunlight and heat left in the growing season to ripen a "normal crop". Crop estimation becomes a very important feature of vineyard management! This year, the average cluster size was a bit lower than what we've seen over the last few years. If one defaults to the old, tired mantra of one cluster per shoot, they likely ended up significantly short in crop. But, its still critical to reduce crop by say 1/2 ton or one ton lower than normal.

The last years we had July flowering were 1991, 1993, 1996, and 1999, with none in the 2000's. Is it possible that new comers missed the historical lessons of almost ten years ago? If thinning is severe, the vine seems to miss the message that it actually has a crop to ripen. So, it is an important balancing act to get the crop not too low, and not too high, to ensure proper ripening before the rain starts and doesn't stop until next July!

August brought needed rainfall. More rain in August than any one month of March, April, and May! This shot of moisture, I am sure, helped the vine shift into veraison gear by September.

In 2008, Argyle started chipping away at sparkling fruit last days of September and first of October. Brilliant sunshine, brilliant natural acidity, and brilliant fruit flavors that seem to make some of the most memorable of Argyle Sparkling wines.

October 3 brought a good shot of rain, but less than predicted. In a normal vintage, this would not be good. But, the cold rain seemed to perk the somewhat droughty vines right up. Vintners were wringing their hands over some more predicted rain. Frost on October 11th knocked off some vineyards in the valley floor.

As usually happens, predicted rain was called off. Dry, Indian summer weather took hold. Ripening and picking occurred at a nice even pace. Last day of picking, 29 October.

White wines are bright and fruity. Nice white peach in Chardonnay, and fantastic, proper botrytis in our Riesling for very ripe Riesling flavors.

Pinots are very dark colored, berries are like biting into an apple texture. Very balanced, and seems to be something like '93 crossed with '99 character.

89 points

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Argyle’s Pinot Noirs begin with the 2009 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley. It is a savory, straightforward effort with ripe flavors, a supple texture, a sense of elegance, and moderate length. Drink it over the next 5-6 years."
- Jay Miller (2009 vintage)
- October 2011

89 points

Wine Spectator
"This silky red shows pretty strawberry fruit, with a hint of licorice lurking in the background, persisting nicely. Finishes with finesse. Drink now through 2015."
- Harvey Steiman (2009 vintage)
- June 2011

90 points

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, medium ruby red, it gives up an enticing nose of cedar, spice box, rose petals, cherry, and raspberry. This is followed by a medium-bodied, ripe, vibrant offering with ample spicy fruit flavors, good volume and intensity, and a medium-long finish. Drink it over the next 4-6 years."
- Jay Miller (2008 vintage)
- October 2010

90 points

Wine Spectator
"Light and easygoing, with a real transparency to its pretty cherry, currant and guava flavors, mingling effectively with cream and delicate spice notes. This just doesn't quit on the finish. Drink now through 2015."
- Harvey Steiman (2008 vintage)
- October 2010