Region: Oregon - Willamette Valley
Grapes: 52% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Meunier
Alcohol: 12.5%
Notes on the Wine
The 2016 sparkling wine vintage in the Willamette Valley was generous yet refined, highlighting the alluring precision the region has to offer. Knudsen Vineyard, in the protected Dundee Hills, brings supple depth and elegance, while Spirit Hill Vineyard, in the windy confines of the Eola-Amity Hills, brings tension and mineral backbone. Fresh seashore, white peach, and toasted brioche are framed around a creamy center and long, graceful finish.
Notes on the Producer
In 1987, Argyle was founded by pioneering vintner Rollin Soles, with a belief that the cool-climate of Oregon’s Willamette Valley was ideal for producing sparkling wines that could stand alongside the great wines of Champagne. To make exceptional sparkling wines, Rollin understood that first he had to grow exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so he embraced a grower-first philosophy that was unique at the time in Oregon. This included developing methods that allow the Argyle team to respond to the character of each vintage by proactively tailoring farming on a block-by-block level to either still or sparkling wine—an innovative approach for an American winery, and one of keys to Argyle’s enduring success. Today, Argyle’s estate program spans more than 400 acres, including three renowned vineyards in the Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity Hills AVAs. Argyle provides scholarships for Pacific Northwest College of Art students and partners with Salud and James Beard Foundation's impact programs.
