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This is a regularly updated page giving you information on vineyard status, grape growing and harvesting progress, terroir or microclimate data, press mentions, etc. Updated by Jason at Argyle Winery. Subscribe to our WineBlog through our RSS Feed.

Argyle Winery is very proud of and thankful for the ever-positive press attention given to our hand-crafted wines. We consider it an honor to provide wine lovers with fine Oregon wines worthy of so much praise.



Oregon's White Wines

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
 
Oregon's White Wines, by Josh Raynolds

Apr 08
Away from their home turf, Oregon’s white wines have never really caught the growing wave of attention that has been directed to the state’s pinot noirs. Scarcity of supply plays a part, no doubt, as restaurants in the Pacific Northwest have for years taken advantage of these wines to showcase the local fishes that dominate their menus. This makes sense, as the vast majority of white wines produced in Oregon are done in a light, clean style. (A few producers have begun to push the envelope by raising some of their wines in small oak barrels, and a few of these examples are outstanding, but many are simply overwhelmed by the wood.) Similarly, local retailers, especially those in Oregon, have always supported these wines.

Perhaps a larger obstacle to the popularity of Oregon's white wines in other markets until recently has been their pricing. Many wines that command tariffs of $20 or more are cleanly made and refreshing but not especially concentrated, much less complex. The best of them, however, offer very good value. In fact, with the weak U.S. dollar having pushed the prices of French and Italian white wines of similar style much higher in recent years, the overwhelming majority of the wines reviewed here are more compelling purchases than ever before. Oregon's challenge in the coming years will be to maintain that level of value. If the dollar eventually makes a comeback, how will Oregon’s whites fare at current price levels? In a world becoming increasingly awash in Muscadet, Spanish albarino and New Zealand and South African sauvignon blanc at lower price points, will savvy buyers in competitive markets be willing to lay out $20 or more for a clean, correct pinot gris?

Oregon's warm 2006 vintage produced white wines with good ripeness and more fruit expression than the 2005s, based on what I saw this spring when I visited the Willamette Valley. With rare exceptions these are wines to be drunk as soon as possible after release, for their vibrant fruit character.


2002 Argyle Winery Brut Willamette Valley
($25; 75% chardonnay and 25% pinot noir) Light yellow with a frothy mousse. Ripe pear and pit fruit aromas, with a gentle nuttiness adding depth. Supple and fleshy on the palate, offering lush orchard fruit and melon flavors and turning spicier with aeration. Offers a nice blend of depth and vivacity. 89 - Link to 2002 Argyle Brut.

1999 Argyle Winery Blanc de Blancs Brut Kundsen Vineyard Julia Lee's Block Dundee Hills
($35; disgorged in 2007) Pale gold. Spicy apple and lemon on the nose, picking up candied ginger and clove qualities that carry onto the palate. Pliant yellow apple and pear flavors are enlivened by dusty minerality and bitter lime pith. The clean finish features excellent lift and cut. 90 - Link to 1999 Blanc de Blancs.

1999 Argyle Winery Brut Knudsen Vineyard Dundee Hills
($35; 80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay) Light yellow. Powerfully scented nose displays ripe pear and yellow peach aromas, along with baking spices and smoked meat. Fleshy orchard fruit and melon flavors pack solid punch but are strikingly fresh, with good mineral bite on the back end. Gains weight and sweetness on the long, sappy finish. This is intense enough to stand up to full-flavored foods, or washed-rind cheeses. 90 - Link to 1999 Knudsen Vineyard Brut.

2006 Argyle Winery Riesling Willamette Valley
($25) Pale yellow. Dusty lime and apple aromas are complicated by quinine and smoky minerals. Very dry-I suspect that some tasters will find this austere-offering brisk citrus and apple skin flavors. Finishes dry and sharp, in the style of an Australian riesling from the Clare Valley. 89 - Link to 2006 Willamette Valley Riesling.

2006 Argyle Winery Chardonnay Nuthouse Willamette Valley
($35) Green-tinged yellow. Strong oak spice qualities complement peach skin and tangerine on the nose. Deep and rich, with strong citrus and pear flavors turning a touch bitter with air. Finishes firm, with good grip and a repeating oak spice quality. Very impressive material here but I wonder about the oak. 88+ - 2006 Nuthouse Chardonnay.

UPDATE: This page has been retired.
Visit our new 2009 Wine Blog, http://argylewinery.com/wp/
- Posted by Jason at Argyle Winery - 8:10 AM