Reserve Pinot Noir
This wine just sings classic Oregon Pinot Noir with delicate floral notes melding with ripe cherry and raspberry wrapped in a light robe of baking spices. The wine has a rich hued Burgundy color with a sparkling brilliance and great clarity. The wine opens with bright, clean flavors of black cherry and forest berries. The palate adds complexities of clove and nutmeg oak spice and hints of earthy tertiary flavors coming through. The long, elegant finish is complimented by Argyle’s signature silky tannins. This is a wine that begs to be drunk now, but with self-control will pay the dividends of complexity and greater depth with aging.
Winemaker's Production Notes
The 2008 growing season was a “late bloomer”. A very dry, cold Spring delayed flowering until July rather than the traditional June time frame. August brought needed rainfall—more rain in August than any one month of March, April of May. As usually happens, the predicted rain in October was called off, and dry Indian Summer weather took hold. Ripening and picking occurred at a nice even pace. Our last day of picking was October 29th.
Wine Production Stats
Varietals: 100% Oregon Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Lone Star, Knudsen, Stoller
AVA: Willamette Valley
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bottled: April 2010
Cases Produced: 6,100
Released: December 2010
Winemakers: Rollin Soles & Andrew Davis
Rollin Soles' 2008 Vintage Notes
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.
90 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve is a more expressive, structured effort, darker in color with aromas of violets, incense, cinnamon, black cherry, and black raspberry. Richer and more structured than the Willamette Valley cuvee, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2019."
- Jay Miller (2009 vintage)
- October 2011
91 points
Wine Spectator
"This fragrant red offers raspberry, rose petal and white pepper aromas, following through on the open-textured palate and lingering well against lightly sandy tannins. Drink now through 2018. 7,000 cases made."
- Harvey Steiman (2008 vintage)
- December 2010
91 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir is darker in color with aromas of violets, incense, cinnamon, black cherry, and black raspberry. Richer and more structured, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2020."
- Jay Miller (2008 vintage)
- October 2010
90 points
Wine Spectator
"Light and silky, with a light burr of tannins under the pretty raspberry and red cherry flavors, lingering against a floral note on the finish. Drink now through 2012."
- Harvey Steiman (2007 vintage)
- November 2009
91 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Pinot Noir Reserve is a juicy, rich, succulent effort that manages to retain a sense of elegance because of its moderate alcohol and silky texture. It can be enjoyed now but should provide pleasure for a decade."
- Jay Miller (2007 vintage)
- October 2009